S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10054
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 2, 2012
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CYMBROWITZ, CLARK, ORTIZ, P. RIVERA -- Multi-
Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRETT, BENEDETTO, CRESPO, ENGLEBRIGHT,
GALEF, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, MARKEY, MILLMAN, NOLAN, REILLY, SCARBOROUGH,
SWEENEY, TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Racing
and Wagering
AN ACT in relation to establishing the legislative task force on respon-
sible gaming
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 New York state budget amended the state
constitution to allow for non-tribal casino gaming in New York. 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 there are severe consequences
associated with problem gambling. According to the National Gambling
Impact Study Commission, gambling addictions increase by approximately
ten percent within a 50-mile radius of casinos and bankruptcy rates are
about 18 percent higher in communities with casinos. According to a
study by the University of Illinois and the University of Georgia,
researchers put society's cost for a problem gambler at $13,586; other
studies put that figure as high as $52,000. Additionally, it is well
documented that problem gambling results in the increase of a myriad of
public health problems such as drug addiction, domestic violence,
divorce, child abuse, suicide attempts, and crime.
c. 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15685-01-2
A. 10054 2
with problem gambling. The legislature concludes that this can be best
accomplished by the creation of a task force on responsible gaming.
S 2. Legislative task force on responsible gaming. A legislative 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 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.
(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 New York state.
S 3. Composition. The task force shall consist of eleven members.
Task force members appointed or designated shall have experience and
expertise in one or more of the following areas:
1) the 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 eleven members to be appointed as
follows: two members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one
member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly, two
members to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, and
one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The
task force shall also include the commissioner of the office of alcohol-
ism 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, the director
of the division of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering or his or her
designee. The chair shall be designated by a simple majority vote of all
members of the task force.
S 4. Compensation. Members shall receive no compensation for their
services but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and neces-
sarily incurred in the performance of any of their duties.
S 5. Report. The task force shall create a final report regarding all
findings and recommendations to be delivered upon completion of all
objectives described herein, but in no event later than February 1,
2013, to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary
president of the senate. At the completion of all duties described here-
in the legislative task force shall be dissolved.
S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.