Bill Text: NJ S3344 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes public awareness campaign concerning risks of gambling and resources available to compulsive gamblers; appropriates $200,000.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-03 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S3344 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3344-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes public awareness campaign concerning risks of gambling and resources available to compulsive gamblers; appropriates $200,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a public awareness campaign on the risks of gambling and the resources available to compulsive gamblers, supplementing Title 5 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall establish a compulsive gambling public awareness campaign to educate the general public on the inherent risks of gambling and the resources available to help compulsive gamblers in the State. The campaign shall, at a minimum, provide information on:
(1) the risks associated with gambling;
(2) the potential consequences associated with gambling;
(3) the rate of addiction associated with gambling; and
(4) the resources available to compulsive gamblers in New Jersey.
b. The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the risks of gambling and the resources available to compulsive gamblers through media outlets, which include, but are not limited to: Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television advertisements, and any other media outlets deemed appropriate by the Director, no later than 180 days after the enactment of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
c. The Director shall report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991. c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than 24 months after the effective date of this act, on the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign.
d. The Division of Gaming Enforcement may accept, for the purposes of the public awareness campaign, any special grant of funds, services, or property from the federal government or any of its agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or other entity.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Gaming Enforcement in the Department of Law and Safety $200,000 to develop and implement the public awareness campaign, and effectuate the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement to establish a compulsive gambling public awareness campaign to educate the general public on the inherent risks of gambling and the resources available to help compulsive gamblers in the State.
Under the bill, the Division of Gaming Enforcement, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will develop and implement a public awareness campaign on the inherent risks of gambling and the resources available to help compulsive gamblers in the State through media outlets, which include, but are not limited to, Statewide newspapers, radio, public service announcements, social media, television ads, and any other media outlets deemed appropriate by the commissioner, no later than 180 days after this bill is enacted.
The Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement will report to the Governor, and to the Legislature, no later than 24 months after the effective date of this bill, on the activities and accomplishments of the public awareness campaign.
Finally, the bill appropriates, from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety $200,000 to develop and implement the public awareness campaign.
