Establishes the task force on the implementation of responsible gaming procedures to develop policies and procedures that foster responsible gaming practices by gaming facilities in New York state.

---

S7301A-2011 Actions

• Jun 14, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 7301A
• Jun 14, 2012: AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
• May 2, 2012: REFERRED TO FINANCE

S7301A-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S7301A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
in relation to establishing the task force on
responsible gaming; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE:
To establish a task force to encourage the
development of a
more comprehensive state public policy to promote responsible gaming
and mitigate risks and consequences associated with problem gambling
conditions of affected individuals.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Legislative findings. With the proposed New York State
Constitutional amendment to expand casino gaming in New York State,
the state needs to also focus on establishing a coherent public
policy to ensure that individuals gamble responsibly and that
measures are instituted to provide services for those who have
problem gambling conditions.

Section 2: Establishes the Task Force on Responsible Gaming. This Task
Force shall:

a. identify policies and programs that can help to mitigate the risks
and consequences associated with compulsive gambling conditions and
to promote responsible gambling practices.
b. make recommendations on laws that need to be enacted or rules to be
promulgated to promote responsible gambling habits at gaming
facilities licensed by the State.
c. identify methods to measure the effectiveness of the responsible
gaming policies adopted by the State.

Section 3: Composition of the Task Force. The Task Force shall have 9
members who have experience in: a) identifying and preventing problem
or compulsive gambling, b) treatment programs for problem gamblers,
and c) the administration of problem gambling programs with a gaming
facility.

The Task Force shall be composed of 2 members appointed by the
Temporary president of the Senate and of the Speaker of the Assembly,
and commissioner, director, or their designee from the following
state agencies, Alcoholism and substance Abuse Services, New York
State Gaming Commission, Division of Lottery, Division of Gaming, and
the Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering. The chair
shall be designated by the Governor.

Section 4: Task Force members shall not receive compensation for their
services.

Section 5: The Task Force shall issue a report on its findings and
recommendations no later than April 1, 2014 to the Governor,
Temporary President of the Senate, and Speaker of the Assembly.


JUSTIFICATION:
This year a bill passed the State Legislature to start the process to
amend the NYS Constitution to allow for non-tribal casino gaming in
New York. Also the State Budget enacted this year included provisions
to merge the Division of Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board to
create the New York State Gaming Commission.

The new Gaming Commission will be comprised of an executive director
and seven members that must have no less than five years
administrative experience in public or business administration and
one or more qualifications in the following areas: (1) significant
service as a certified public accountant; (2) knowledge of corporate
finance and securities; (3) professional experience in gaming
regulation administration or management; and (4) experience in fields
of criminal investigation, law, or law enforcement.

While New York State appears to have the necessary administrative
structure in place to ensure casino gaming will be properly
regulated, be financially successful, and maintain integrity and
fairness with all gaming activity, there remains no internal
controls to make certain that gaming policies exist which promote
responsible gaming practices. The New York State Commission, as it is
currently formed and its divisions may be ill prepared or could lack
the knowledge and experience needed to address issues that are
related to problem gambling. This could potentially result in severe
consequences to individuals who may have problem gambling conditions,
their families, and loved ones.

According to national gambling impact studies, gambling addictions can
increase within a 50-mile radius of a casino. Further, bankruptcy
rates can be higher in communities with casinos. Additionally, the
increased incidence of problem gambling conditions can result in an
increase in a myriad of other problems such as financial distress of
families associated with a compulsive gambler and can lead to higher
incidences of public health problems such as drug addiction, domestic
violence, divorce, child abuse and crime.

Establishing this Task Force should help to advance the prospect for
developing and implementing a coherent responsible gaming policy for
this State and to foster responsible gaming practices by gaming
facilities licensed by this State and to mitigate the risks or
consequences associated with problem gambling.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill which is similar to A.10054-A (Cymbrowitz)

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

S7301A-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                   7301--A

                              I N  SENATE

                                 May 2, 2012
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen.  KLEIN  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Finance  --  committee
    discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
    to said committee

  AN ACT in relation to establishing the task force on responsible gaming;
    and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
    of

    THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. Legislative findings. a. The legislature hereby finds  that
  the  recently enacted 2012-2013 state budget amended the state constitu-
  tion to allow for  non-tribal  casino  gaming  in  the  state.  It  also
  included  provisions  to create a New York state gaming commission, as a
  result of the merger between the division of lottery and the racing  and
  wagering board. The commission is charged with oversight of the division
  of  lottery,  the division of charitable gaming, the division of gaming,
  and the division of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering. This legisla-
  tive action consolidated the state's gaming regulatory functions under a
  single oversight body.
    b. The legislature further finds that the development of policies  and
  procedures that foster responsible gaming practices by gaming facilities
  licensed  or enfranchised by the New York state gaming commission or its
  divisions is necessary to mitigate the risks or consequences  associated
  with  problem  gambling. The legislature concludes that this can be best
  accomplished by the creation of a task force on responsible gaming.
    S 2. Task force on responsible gaming.   A task force  on  responsible
  gaming is hereby established to:

    (a)  Identify policies and programs that mitigate the risks and conse-
  quences associated with  compulsive  gambling  and  promote  responsible
  gaming practices for all gaming activities authorized in New York state.
    (b)  Recommend  policies  and  procedures  to  be  enacted into law or
  promulgated in regulations by the New York state gaming  commission  and
  its divisions to ensure responsible gaming in all facilities licensed or
  enfranchised by such commission or divisions.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD15685-04-2

 S. 7301--A                          2

    (c)  Recommend a structure by which all responsible gaming regulations
  promulgated by the  commission  or  its  divisions  shall  be  enforced,
  including  but  not  limited  to  penalties for violations of regulatory
  standards and corrective action.
    (d)  Identifying  methods  to measure effectiveness of any responsible
  gaming procedures implemented.
    (e) Identify and recommend provisions necessary to ensure  responsible
  gaming  practices  to  be  included  in enabling legislation authorizing
  casino style gaming facilities in the state.
    S 3. Composition. The task force shall consist of  9  members.    Task
  force  members  appointed or designated shall have experience and exper-
  tise in one or more of the following areas:

    1) the identification and prevention of problem gambling;
    2) the treatment of problem gambling;
    3) administration of problem gambling programs within a gaming facili-
  ty.
    The task force shall consist of 9 members as follows: two  members  to
  be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, two members to be appointed
  by the temporary president of the senate, the commissioner of alcoholism
  and  substance  abuse  services  or  his  or her designee, the executive
  director of the New York state gaming commission or his or her designee,
  the director of the division of lottery or  his  or  her  designee,  the
  director  of  the  division  of  gaming  or his or her designee, and the
  director of the division of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering or his
  or her designee. The chair shall be designated by the governor.
    S 4. Compensation. The members of the  task  force  shall  receive  no
  compensation  for  their  services  but  shall  be  reimbursed for their
  expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of any  of
  their duties.
    S 5. Report. The task force shall prepare a final report regarding all
  findings  and  recommendations  to  be  delivered upon completion of all
  objectives described herein, but in no event later than April  1,  2014,
  to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president
  of the senate. At the completion of all duties described herein the task
  force shall be dissolved.
    S  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
  deemed repealed April 1, 2014.