BILL NUMBER:S4499

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the mental hygiene law and the education
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

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Requires the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)
to develop an adolescent problem gambling curriculum to be available for
schools for grades 4-12

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law by adding a new
subdivision (i)to require the OASAS in consultation with the education
department to establish a curriculum for a course of instruction in
adolescent problem gambling, which may, the option of any school, be
provided in grades 4-12. Such course should include materials to educate
students on the dangers and consequences of problem gambling, and shall
be available on the internet website of OASAS.

Section 2 amends section 305 of education law to add new subdivision 43
to require the department to post on their website the curriculum.

              

Section 3 makes the act take effect immediately and section one shall
take effect on August 1, 2014.

JUSTIFICATION:

A recent study by the New York Council on Problem Gambling highlighted
the need for gambling education in New York State: While participation
in all forms of gambling is illegal for individuals under the age of 18
in New York State, 86% of the New York adolescent respondents said that
they had bet on one or more types of gambling at some time, 75% had
gambled in the past year and 15% had bet on one or more types of gambl-
ing on a weekly basis.

Despite restrictions on underage gambling in New York State, nearly
one-third of the adolescent respondents have been able to purchase
lottery tickets, 9% have been able to wager at horse or dog races, 6%
have been able to participate in Quick Draw and 5% have been able to
gamble at a casino. Despite their substantially lower income, adoles-
cents in New York report spending approximately one-third as much, on
average, as adults report spending on all types of gambling.

There is concern that lottery gambling may be an experience that encour-
ages young people to engage in other, less broadly sanctioned types of
gambling as well as in other risk-taking behaviors, such as illicit drug
use. A significant increase in lottery play by age was identified among
New York adolescents.

While 20% of 13-year-olds in the sample have purchased lottery products
in the past year, 36% of 17-year-olds have done so. The increase in
lottery play is correlated with increases in other types of gambling and
in the use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.

In New York, 2.4%, (1.09%) of the total sample of adolescent respondents
were classified as problem gamblers, the most serious classification of
gambling-related difficulties among youth. Another 14.0%, (-2.05%) of
the total sample of adolescent respondents were classified as gamblers
at risk for developing gambling problems. Based on the prevalence rates,
it is estimated that there are between 15,400 and 41,000 adolescents in
New York who have experienced severe problems with their gambling and
between 135,000 and 193,000 whose gambling involvement has caused them
difficulties in the past or, more likely, places them at risk for devel-
oping gambling-related difficulties in the future.

Problem gamblers are more likely than other adolescents who gamble to
have problems with family members or friends due to gambling and to have
had trouble at school or work due to their gambling. Problem gamblers
are more likely than at-risk or non-problem gamblers to have shoplifted,
sold drugs and engaged in other illegal activities to get money to
gamble or to pay gambling debts.

Gambling involvement among adolescents in New York is correlated with
alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use. Weekly gamblers are more likely than
less frequent gamblers to have ever tried alcohol, tobacco and marijuana
and to have gotten into trouble in the past year because of their alco-
hol or drug use.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2003: A. 11639 - alcoholism and drug abuse
Committee: 2009-2010: A4339 referred to alcoholism and drug abuse
Committee: 2425C of 2011 passed Assembly.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None. There are model programs that can be emulated from other states
and nongovernmental organizations. Schools wishing to use this educa-
tional tool can incorporate it into DARE program.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on August 1, 2014.