12. Tribal-state compact. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the state, through the governor, may execute a tribal-state compact with the Seneca Nation of Indians pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-497; 25 U.S.C. 2701-2721 and 18 U.S.C. 1166-1168) consistent with a memorandum of understanding between the governor and the president of the Seneca Nation of Indians executed on June twentieth, two thousand one and filed with the department of state on June twenty-first, two thousand one. Such tribal-state compact shall be deemed ratified by the legislature upon the governor's certification to the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the secretary of state, that such compact, through its terms, by a memorandum of understanding or other agreement between the state and Nation, by a Nation's ordinance or resolution, by statute, by executive order, or by the terms of any other agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Nation, provides: (i) assurances that the Nation will provide (1) reasonable access to the gaming and related facilities to labor union organizers for purposes of a campaign to solicit employee support for labor union representation; (2) permission for labor union organizers to distribute labor union authorization cards on site for the purpose of soliciting employee support for labor union representation; and (3) recognition of labor unions as the exclusive collective bargaining representatives of employees in appropriate bargaining units based upon a demonstration of majority employee support of such labor unions by union authorization card check as verified, if necessary, by an independent arbitrator appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board in consultation with the Nation and the labor union; (ii) assurances that the Nation has an adequate civil recovery system which guarantees fundamental due process to visitors and guests of the facility and related facilities; and (iii) assurances that the Nation will maintain during the term of the compact sufficient liability insurance to assure that visitors and guests will be compensated for their injuries.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the state, through the governor, may execute tribal-state compacts pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-497; 25 U.S.C. 2701-2721 and 18 U.S.C. 1166-1168) authorizing up to three Class III gaming facilities in the counties of Sullivan and Ulster. Such tribal-state compact shall be deemed ratified by the legislature upon the governor's certification to the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the secretary of state, that such compact, through its terms, by a memorandum of understanding or other agreement between the state and Nation, by a Nation's ordinance or resolution, by statute, by executive order, or by the terms of any other agreement entered into by or on behalf of the Nation, provides: (i) assurances that the Nation will provide (1) reasonable access to the gaming and related facilities to labor union organizers for purposes of a campaign to solicit employee support for labor union representation; (2) permission for labor union organizers to distribute labor union authorization cards on site for the purpose of soliciting employee support for labor union representation; (3) provision of employees' names and addresses to labor union representatives and tribal/employer/management neutrality in labor union organizing campaigns; (4) recognition of labor unions as the exclusive collective bargaining representatives of employees in appropriate bargaining units based upon a demonstration of majority employee support of such labor unions by union authorization card check as verified, if necessary, by an independent arbitrator appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board in consultation with the Nation and the labor union; and (5) final and binding arbitration of organized labor matters or disputes including negotiations for collective bargaining agreements with arbitrators' awards enforceable in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) assurances that the Nation has an adequate civil recovery system which guarantees fundamental due process to visitors and guests of the facility and related facilities; and (iii) assurances that the Nation will maintain during the term of the compact sufficient liability insurance to assure that visitors and guests will be compensated for their injuries.
(c) Except as otherwise specifically provided in the compact, the state specifically reserves all its rights, as attributes of its inherent sovereignty, recognized by the tenth and eleventh amendments to the United States Constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the existing authority of the governor under the constitution and laws of this state to execute tribal-state compacts.
Last modified: February 3, 2019