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.