Relates to the powers of the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services.

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S7300-2011 Actions

• Jun 21, 2012: COMMITTED TO RULES
• May 23, 2012: ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
• May 22, 2012: 2ND REPORT CAL.
• May 21, 2012: 1ST REPORT CAL.845
• May 2, 2012: REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE

S7300-2011 Meetings

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: May 21, 2012

S7300-2011 Calendars

Floor Calendar: May 22, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 23, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 30, 2012 , Floor Calendar: May 31, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 4, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 5, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 6, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 11, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 12, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 13, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 14, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 18, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 19, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 20, 2012 , Floor Calendar: Jun 21, 2012

S7300-2011 Votes

S7300-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S7300

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to powers of the
commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services

PURPOSE:
To increase awareness of problem gambling in the gaming
facilities.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This legislation will require gambling
facilities to post signs in a prominent manner within reasonable
proximity to every exit and entrance of a gambling facility.

JUSTIFICATION:
The vast majority of states that allow gambling within
their borders, including New York, require that signs providing
information on compulsive gambling assistance be posted in all gaming
facilities. This is widely accepted as an appropriate tool to promote
responsible gaming and raise awareness about how assistance with
problem gambling can be obtained. New York State also includes on
their signs, a hotline number which assists in connecting people to
services and supports which are available to them.

According to the New York State Council on Problem Gambling (NYSCPG),
the manner in which these signs are posted appear to be haphazard and
inconsistent. As a result, knowledge and use of this 24-hour helpline
is inadequate. As a consequence, there are less New Yorkers receiving
the help that they need and that is available to them. NYSCPG
reported that in 2011, there were only 1,449 calls to the helpline
despite approximately one million people in New York being identified
with a gambling problem.
Additionally, only 8% of individuals in treatment were referred by the
NYS helpline.

This bill will help to raise awareness on how to access supports and
services for problem gambling by increasing the visibility of signs
posted in gaming facilities.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the
same date and in the
same manner as section 1 of part A of chapter 60 of the laws of 2012,
takes effect.

S7300-2011 Text

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

                                    7300

                              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 Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

  AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation  to  powers  of  the
    commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services

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


    Section 1. Subdivision (h) of section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law,
  as added by section 6 of part I of chapter 58 of the laws  of  2005,  is
  amended to read as follows:

    (h)  The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring
  the [state] DIVISION OF HORSE racing and  PARI-MUTUEL  wagering  [board]
  and  the  [state lottery] division OF LOTTERY to provide for the posting
  of signs in facilities [licensed] REGULATED by the [state]  DIVISION  OF
  HORSE  racing  and  PARI-MUTUEL  wagering  [board to conduct pari-mutuel
  wagering] and facilities [licensed] REGULATED  by  the  [state  lottery]
  division OF LOTTERY advising where to get help in dealing with a compul-
  sion  to  gamble.  In  addition, the information contained on such signs
  shall be posted on the internet  at  appropriate  internet  sites.  Such
  signs  and  information posted on the internet shall include, but not be
  limited to, notice of the availability of  one  or  more  organizations,
  approved  by  the commissioner, which offer assistance in the prevention
  and treatment of compulsive gambling. Such signs, not  less  than  eight
  and one-half inches by eleven inches, shall be [conspicuously] posted IN
  A  PROMINENT  MANNER AND WITHIN REASONABLE DISTANCE OF EACH ENTRANCE AND
  EXIT by the facility which is conducting the gambling.  Such signs shall
  be available at the [state] DIVISION OF  HORSE  racing  and  PARI-MUTUEL
  wagering  [board],  the  [state  lottery]  division  OF LOTTERY, and the
  office of alcoholism and substance abuse services and shall be  distrib-
  uted by the appropriate licensing agency.
    S  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect on the same date and in the same
  manner as section 1 of part A of chapter 60 of the laws of  2012,  takes
  effect.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD15571-01-2