STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
658--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, STIRPE, JACOBSON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse -- recommitted
to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in accordance with
Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00434-02-2
A. 658--A 2
1 at locations determined by the council. All meetings of the council
2 shall be subject to the open meetings law. The council shall:
3 1. develop and recommend strategies to ensure availability and access
4 to problem gambling programs and resources, including information and
5 resources regarding prevention of problem gambling, for individuals
6 throughout the state;
7 2. consult with individuals or organizations with experience in the
8 field of problem gambling services on funding and policy recommenda-
9 tions, including the availability of problem gambling services, the
10 location of such services, and the need for such services;
11 3. create strategies to increase public awareness of problem gambling
12 and the availability of problem gambling resources;
13 4. recommend allocations of machine and table fees collected from a
14 gaming licensee pursuant to section thirteen hundred forty-eight of the
15 racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and distributed pursuant
16 to section ninety-seven-nnnn of the state finance law to effectuate the
17 recommendations and strategies developed pursuant to paragraphs one, two
18 and three of this subdivision; and
19 5. examine the impact of mobile sports betting on problem gambling
20 services, including but not limited to, any increase in the number of
21 calls placed to the problem gambling hopeline or outreach to local prob-
22 lem gambling resource centers and any need for additional staffing, and
23 any increase in the number of individuals placing themselves on the list
24 of self-excluded persons at gaming facilities; and
25 6. develop an annual report to be provided to the governor and legis-
26 lature containing its findings and recommendations with regard to prob-
27 lem gambling, including programs, resources, and services throughout the
28 state. The annual report shall be due no later than October first of
29 each year, with the first report provided no later than the first of
30 October next succeeding the effective date of this section.
31 (d) Term. Appointed members of the council shall serve for a term of
32 four years and continue to serve until their successor is appointed.
33 Each member of the council shall be entitled to designate in writing a
34 representative to attend meetings in his or her place and to vote or
35 otherwise act on his or her behalf in his or her absence. A member
36 appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the
37 member he or she is appointed to succeed. The members of the council
38 shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed
39 for their expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties
40 hereunder. The council shall select, by a majority vote, members to
41 serve as a chair and as a secretary.
42 (e) Sharing of information. The council may request, and shall
43 receive, information from any state or local governmental agency neces-
44 sary to complete its duties pursuant to this section, so long as such
45 information does not contain any personally identifying information and
46 not otherwise protected by state or federal law.
47 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
48 it shall have become a law.
