Bill Text: NY S06701 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the problem gambling advisory council.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-12 - referred to alcoholism and drug abuse [S06701 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-S06701-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6701 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE May 5, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the problem gambling advisory council The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 2 25.04 to read as follows: 3 § 25.04 Problem gambling advisory council. 4 (a) Creation and purpose. The problem gambling advisory council 5 (hereinafter the "council") is hereby established. The purpose of the 6 council is to make findings and recommendations to the governor and 7 legislature on how to prevent and treat problem gambling in the state of 8 New York. 9 (b) Composition. The council shall consist of thirteen members, 10 including the commissioner of the office of addiction services and 11 supports, the chair of the gaming commission, and eleven additional 12 members: four members appointed by the temporary president of the 13 senate; four members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one 14 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; one member 15 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and one member 16 appointed by the governor; provided, however, the temporary president of 17 the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall each appoint at least 18 two representatives of community-based behavioral health services 19 providers. 20 (c) Duties of the council. The council shall meet as frequently as 21 necessary, but not less than two times per year. Meetings shall be held 22 at locations determined by the council. All meetings of the council 23 shall be subject to the open meetings law. The council shall: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02525-01-3S. 6701 2 1 1. develop and recommend strategies to ensure availability and access 2 to problem gambling programs and resources, including information and 3 resources regarding prevention of problem gambling, for individuals 4 throughout the state; 5 2. consult with individuals or organizations with experience in the 6 field of problem gambling services on funding and policy recommenda- 7 tions, including the availability of problem gambling services, the 8 location of such services, and the need for such services; 9 3. create strategies to increase public awareness of problem gambling 10 and the availability of problem gambling resources; 11 4. recommend allocations of machine and table fees collected from a 12 gaming licensee pursuant to section thirteen hundred forty-eight of the 13 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and distributed pursuant 14 to section ninety-seven-nnnn of the state finance law to effectuate the 15 recommendations and strategies developed pursuant to paragraphs one, two 16 and three of this subdivision; and 17 5. examine the impact of mobile sports betting on problem gambling 18 services, including but not limited to, any increase in the number of 19 calls placed to the problem gambling hopeline or outreach to local prob- 20 lem gambling resource centers and any need for additional staffing, and 21 any increase in the number of individuals placing themselves on the list 22 of self-excluded persons at gaming facilities; and 23 6. develop an annual report to be provided to the governor and legis- 24 lature containing its findings and recommendations with regard to prob- 25 lem gambling, including programs, resources, and services throughout the 26 state. The annual report shall be due no later than October first of 27 each year, with the first report provided no later than the first of 28 October next succeeding the effective date of this section. 29 (d) Term. Appointed members of the council shall serve for a term of 30 four years and continue to serve until their successor is appointed. 31 Each member of the council shall be entitled to designate in writing a 32 representative to attend meetings in his or her place and to vote or 33 otherwise act on his or her behalf in his or her absence. A member 34 appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the 35 member he or she is appointed to succeed. The members of the council 36 shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed 37 for their expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties 38 hereunder. The council shall select, by a majority vote, members to 39 serve as a chair and as a secretary. 40 (e) Sharing of information. The council may request, and shall 41 receive, information from any state or local governmental agency neces- 42 sary to complete its duties pursuant to this section, so long as such 43 information does not contain any personally identifying information and 44 not otherwise protected by state or federal law. 45 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 46 it shall have become a law.
