The California Sports Wagering and Consumer Protection Act that would allow legal sports betting at tribal casinos and horse racetracks in California faces another delay as the state’s Senate Appropriations Committee has moved its suspense hearing to June 23.
Constitutional Amendment 6 (SCA 6) was approved by the California Senate Governmental Organization Committee and moved to the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this month. The bill was then moved to the suspense file at the June 9 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing due to its significant fiscal impact and faced a suspense hearing.
Originally scheduled for June 18, the suspense hearing of SCA 6 will not be public and no further testimony will be taken. The bill will either pass or be held in committee. The latter action would end the legislative process.
The delay and today’s adjournment of the California Assembly for its summer recess may be concerning as the June 25 deadline for SCA 6 to make it on the November ballot quickly approaches.
If the Appropriations Committee passes it on Tuesday, the California Assembly can return to the Senate Floor later next week to vote on the bill. Another option could be California Secretary of State Alex Padilla adding SCA 6 to a supplemental ballot for lawmakers to vote on later next month.
SCA 6 still requires a two-thirds majority in the both houses before a November vote by California residents.
