Cowlitz Indian Tribe — Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee Legislative Hearing — Compact Amendment (March 27, 2024)

Summary

A slide presentation for a legislative hearing on a proposed gaming compact amendment for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe before the Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee, dated March 27, 2024. It lists the Tribe's Chair, the Gambling Commission's Director and tribal liaison, and the commissioners and ex officio legislative members. The slides quote the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, set out public protection interests and outline the compact amendment approval process. The Tribe's section gives a history timeline, describes tribal programs and lists community contributions, including $48,000,000 in total compact and ordinance fees since 2017. The summary of compact changes concerns smoking cessation and prevention, including secondhand smoke barriers, and next steps list a Commission meeting on April 25, 2024.

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Full text

Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee
Legislative Hearing – Proposed Compact Amendment

March 27, 2024

The Honorable Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, Chair, Cowlitz Indian Tribe

Tina Griffin, Director, Gambling Commission

Julie Lies, Tribal Liaison, Gambling Commission
Commissioners




                     Chair Alicia Levy             Vice Chair Julia Patterson




      Bud Sizemore                       Sarah Lawson                  Anders Ibsen
Ex Officio Members




        Senator         Senator       Representative    Representative
     Steve Conway      Jeff Holy       Shelley Kloba    Eric Robertson
       29th District   6th District      1st District     31st District
  “Class III gaming activities shall be
  lawful on Indian lands only if such
  activities are located in a State that
     permits such gaming and are
   conducted in conformance with a
         tribal-state compact…”



1988: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Negotiation Topics

    - Casino-style gaming activities

    - Criminal and civil jurisdiction

    - Fees for state regulation

    - Remedies for breach of contract

    - Standards of operation
  1988: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

      “The purpose of this chapter is…
   to protect such gaming as a means of
        generating tribal revenue.”

            “The State must
         negotiate in good faith
when a compact or amendment is requested
              by a tribe.”
Public Protection Interests
    - No criminal involvement

    - Gaming conducted fairly,
     honestly


    - Gaming limited to authorized
     activities


    - Minimize negative impacts on
     local law enforcement,
     emergency services
Gaming Compact Amendment
Approval Process
                                                  Proposed Amendment
  Compact negotiated      Direction from State         submitted to
   by WSGC Director          policy makers            Commission &
                                                        Legislature




                          Commission Hearing      Governor Reviews &
  Legislative Hearing
                               & Vote              has final execution




                          Amendment Effective
   Tribe forwards to
                          when published in the
  Secretary of Interior
                            Federal Register
     Compact Hearing



   Patty Kinswa-Gaiser,
Chair of The Cowlitz Indian
                         The Cowlitz Indian Tribe History

Facts
• The Cowlitz Indian Tribe once encompassed 3,000 sq. miles of Southwest Washington
• The Cowlitz Tribe has almost 5000 members and relies on gaming revenues and grants to provide services
Timeline
•   1854 – The federal government proposed a reservation for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe about six miles east of the
    Tribe's casino site
•   1855 – In treaty negotiations, the United States tried to persuade the Tribe to relocate to the Olympic
    Peninsula. The Tribe refused to leave
•   1863 – The Tribe’s land was opened to non-Indian settlement by Executive Order
•   2000 – The Tribe reestablished its federal recognition
•   June 16, 2014 – Governor Inslee signed the Cowlitz Tribe’s gaming compact
•   2015 – The Tribe's application to establish a Reservation and obtain trust lands in Clark County was approved
•   April 24, 2017 – The Tribe’s casino, ilani, opened its door to the public
•   April 24, 2023 – The Tribe added a hotel to the casino property

Compact Hearing
                                                                                                                    11
                                        Programs & Services
• Health Services programs providing medical, mental health and substance abuse services to Native Americans in
  Western Washington at three sites (Vancouver, Longview and Tukwila).
• Education Department provides tuition assistance available to tribal members.
• Youth Services programs including camps, gatherings and classes on tribal history and culture.
• Housing Department assistance for low-income Tribal members through programs including services for renters and
  homeowners and Elder’s apartments.
• Natural Resources programs work with Tribal and non-Tribal governments to conserve and restore culturally-
  relevant species and landscapes integral to the Cowlitz People.
• Transportation Department provides trips to medical appointments, shopping and social gatherings for the disabled,
  low income, or those without transportation within our service area.
• Cultural Resources Department maintains and restores the Tribe’s culture, language, and history. Major activities
  include the Canoe journey, the annual Pow-wow, and the Tribal Drum Group.
• Elders Program assists tribal elders in maintaining quality of life, including meals, transportation, housing assistance
    and health services.
Compact Hearing
                                                                                                                             12
                                Community Impact
• The Cowlitz Indian Tribe contributed millions to our local community:
   o $48,000,000 in total compact and ordinance fees since 2017
   o $40,000,000 spent on upgrading the I-5 interchange
   o $15,000,000 spent on a Water Treatment facility for the reservation
   o $4,500,000 spent on a sewer expansion for the City of La Center

• In addition to millions donated through the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s various funds, since its
  inception, ilani has directly contributed more than $3,200,000 to charitable causes in the
  region.




Compact Hearing
                                                                                                13
                  New Junior Ballroom and Meeting Rooms




Compact Hearing
                                                          14
                  New Separated Smoking Area




Compact Hearing
                                               15
Summary of Compact Changes
Smoking Cessation and Prevention


- Pro-rated contribution for smoke-free
  portions of the Gaming Facility

- Requires secondhand smoke barriers
  consistent with industry-accepted control
  strategies that prevent exposure

- Requires a calculation method easy to verify
Next Steps


   Today                    Commission Meeting
                            April 25, 2024


       • Hold required              • Vote to forward to
         hearing                      Governor
       • Answer questions           • Vote to return for
                                      further
                                      negotiations


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