By Telford H.B. No. 3336
77R9122 GJH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of entities to study, report on, and
1-3 address problems associated with gambling.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 461, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Section 461.019 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 461.019. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON COMPULSIVE GAMBLING.
1-8 (a) The Interagency Council on Compulsive Gambling is created to
1-9 foster cooperation between state agencies to address problems
1-10 created by compulsive gambling.
1-11 (b) The council's membership shall include a high-level
1-12 representative from each of the following entities who are
1-13 appointed by the director of each entity:
1-14 (1) Texas Department on Aging;
1-15 (2) Texas Agricultural Extension Service;
1-16 (3) Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse;
1-17 (4) Office of the Attorney General;
1-18 (5) Texas Commission on Children and Youth;
1-19 (6) Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner;
1-20 (7) Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
1-21 (8) Texas Education Agency;
1-22 (9) Texas Department of Health;
1-23 (10) Health and Human Services Commission;
1-24 (11) Texas Department of Human Services;
2-1 (12) Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
2-2 (13) Texas Lottery Commission;
2-3 (14) Texas Lottery Commission, Bingo Division;
2-4 (15) Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
2-5 Retardation;
2-6 (16) Department of Protective and Regulatory Services;
2-7 (17) Department of Public Safety of the State of
2-8 Texas;
2-9 (18) Texas Racing Commission; and
2-10 (19) Center for Rural Health Initiatives.
2-11 (c) The representative of the Health and Human Services
2-12 Commission shall serve as the presiding officer of the council.
2-13 The Health and Human Services Commission shall provide
2-14 administrative support to the council.
2-15 (d) The Texas Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling
2-16 shall designate at least one person to advise the council.
2-17 (e) The council shall meet at least once each calendar
2-18 quarter on dates determined by the council.
2-19 (f) The council shall make annual reports to the governor,
2-20 lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house. The annual reports
2-21 shall document the efforts of each entity represented on the
2-22 council to address the needs of people impacted by compulsive
2-23 gambling in this state.
2-24 SECTION 2. (a) The Blue Ribbon Panel on Problem Gambling is
2-25 created to study compulsive gambling and to develop a plan to
2-26 provide education, preventive measures, and treatment of compulsive
2-27 gambling in this state.
3-1 (b) The panel consists of at least 13 members to be selected
3-2 as follows:
3-3 (1) a representative of the governor's office;
3-4 (2) a state senator appointed by the lieutenant
3-5 governor;
3-6 (3) a member of the house of representatives appointed
3-7 by the speaker of the house; and
3-8 (4) not fewer than 10 members appointed by the
3-9 governor who have an interest in compulsive gambling and have
3-10 experience in one of the following:
3-11 (A) clinical social work practice;
3-12 (B) financial literacy or credit counseling;
3-13 (C) legal or criminal justice experience;
3-14 (D) community mental health centers;
3-15 (E) research institutions;
3-16 (F) services for older adults;
3-17 (G) student activities or athletics in higher
3-18 education;
3-19 (H) youth education; or
3-20 (I) religious organizations.
3-21 (c) The panel shall:
3-22 (1) examine current research of the prevalence of
3-23 compulsive gambling in this state, the United States, and Canada;
3-24 (2) identify the best educational, prevention, and
3-25 treatment programs for compulsive gambling in the United States and
3-26 Canada;
3-27 (3) identify how co-morbidity factors impact the onset
4-1 and treatment of compulsive gambling;
4-2 (4) evaluate how compulsive gambling impacts
4-3 individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, and
4-4 the criminal justice system;
4-5 (5) consider changes in the law that would reduce the
4-6 incidences of compulsive gambling;
4-7 (6) determine what standards are necessary to protect
4-8 persons who seek counseling and treatment for compulsive gambling
4-9 problems; and
4-10 (7) evaluate how state gambling regulatory agencies
4-11 are promoting responsible gambling practices.
4-12 (d) The governor shall appoint a presiding officer of the
4-13 panel.
4-14 (e) The Texas Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling
4-15 shall designate at least one person to assist the panel.
4-16 (f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
4-17 panel.
4-18 (g) A member of the panel is not entitled to reimbursement
4-19 or compensation for service unless the person is a state employee.
4-20 State employees shall be reimbursed for expenses to the extent
4-21 authorized by the General Appropriations Act.
4-22 (h) The entities represented by members of the panel may
4-23 provide staff and other support to the panel.
4-24 (i) Initial appointments to the panel shall be made before
4-25 January 1, 2002.
4-26 (j) The panel shall submit a report based on its findings
4-27 and a strategic plan that includes a timetable for implementation
5-1 to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house not
5-2 later than January 15, 2003.
5-3 (k) This section expires and the panel is abolished on
5-4 January 16, 2003.
5-5 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
5-6 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
5-7 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
5-8 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
5-9 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.