S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4839

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 6, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  P. RIVERA  --  read once and referred to the
  Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in  relation  to  requiring  the
  office  of  alcoholism  and  substance  abuse  services to establish a
  curriculum in problem gambling which may be provided  in  grades  four
  through  twelve;  to  establish  an adolescent gambling task force and
  providing for its duties; and providing  for  the  repeal  of  certain
  provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. Section 19.07 of the  mental  hygiene  law  is  amended  by
adding a new subdivision (h) to read as follows:
  (H) THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES SHALL ESTAB-
LISH  A  CURRICULUM  FOR  A  COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ADOLESCENT PROBLEM
GAMBLING WHICH MAY, AT THE OPTION OF ANY SCHOOL, BE PROVIDED  IN  GRADES
FOUR  THROUGH TWELVE. SUCH COURSE OF INSTRUCTION SHALL INCLUDE MATERIALS
TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON THE DANGERS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PROBLEM GAMBLING,
AND SHALL BE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET WEBSITE OF SUCH OFFICE.
  S 2. Adolescent gambling task force. (a) An adolescent  gambling  task
force  is  hereby  created to examine, evaluate and make recommendations
concerning the content and manner  of  instruction  for  the  course  of
instruction  in  problem  gambling  established  by  subdivision  (h) of
section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law, as added by section one of this
act. Such task force shall also examine the prevalence and  consequences
of problem gambling among adolescents.
  (b)  The  adolescent  gambling  task  force  shall be composed of nine
members as follows: the commissioner of alcoholism and  substance  abuse
services,  one  member appointed by the commissioner of health to repre-
sent the department of health, one member appointed by the  commissioner
of  education  to  represent  the  department  of education, two members
appointed by the temporary president of the senate to  represent  organ-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06741-01-9
              

A. 4839                             2

izations  which  serve or advocate on behalf of adolescents, two members
appointed by the speaker of  the  assembly  to  represent  organizations
which  serve  or advocate on behalf of adolescents, one member appointed
by  the  minority  leader  of the senate and one person appointed by the
minority leader of the assembly. The appointees shall be broadly  repre-
sentative  of  the geographic areas of the state, and shall serve at the
pleasure of the appointing official for such member. The  chair  of  the
task  force  shall be the commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse
services.  The commissioner of alcoholism and substance  abuse  services
shall,  on  or  before  January  1, 2010, report to the governor and the
legislature as to whether all  members  of  the  task  force  have  been
appointed,  and if not, which member or members have not been appointed.
Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall  be  filled  in  the
manner provided for original appointments.
  (c)  The  task force may meet within and without the state, shall hold
public hearings, and shall have all the powers of a legislative  commit-
tee pursuant to the legislative law.
  (d)  The  members  of the task force shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this section.
  (e) To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall  be  entitled
to  request  and  receive,  and  shall utilize and be provided with such
facilities, resources and  data  of  any  court,  department,  division,
board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdi-
vision  thereof  as  it may reasonably request to properly carry out its
powers and duties pursuant to this section.
  (f) On or before June 1, 2010, the task  force  shall  report  to  the
office  of alcoholism and substance abuse services its findings, conclu-
sions and recommendations on implementing the provisions of  subdivision
(h)  of section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law, as added by section one
of this act.
  (g) On or before June 1, 2011, the task  force  shall  report  to  the
office  of  alcoholism and substance abuse services on the status of and
any actions taken on the recommendations made  pursuant  to  subdivision
(f) of this section.
  S  3.  This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one
of this act shall take effect September 1, 2010, and section two of this
act shall expire and be deemed repealed on June 2, 2011.