BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                         SR 20|
          |Office of Senate Floor Analyses   |                              |
          |(916) 651-1520    Fax: (916)      |                              |
          |327-4478                          |                              |
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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SR 20
          Author:   Berryhill (R), Block (D), Cannella (R), Gaines (R),  
                    Hall (D), Hill (D), McGuire (D), and Vidak (R)
          Introduced:3/25/15  
          Vote:     Majority  

          SUBJECT:   Problem Gambling Awareness Month


          SOURCE:    California Council on Problem Gambling


          DIGEST:  This resolution recognizes the month of March 2015 as  
          National Problem Gambling Awareness Month.


          ANALYSIS:   This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1.The month of March 2015 is recognized as National Problem  
            Gambling Awareness Month by the National Council on Problem  
            Gambling (established in 1972) and its 37 State Affiliates,  
            including the California Council on Problem Gambling  
            (established in 1986).


          2.Problem gambling is not only an addiction, but also a public  
            health issue in which some problem gamblers and others are  
            affected by problem gambling behavior.


          3.Problem gambling is a treatable disease, and treatment is  
            effective at minimizing the harm to individuals, families, and  
            society as a whole.  The Office of Problem Gambling and UCLA  








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            Gambling Studies Program currently operate the California  
            Gambling Education and Treatment Services, which, since 2010,  
            has provided treatment services to over 7,000 problem gamblers  
            and others affected by a gambling disorder.  While many  
            individuals have received help, only a limited number of  
            individuals affected by problem gambling seek treatment  
            options and utilize existing problem gambling programs.


          4.The Bureau of Gambling Control within the Department of  
            Justice, the California Gambling Control Commission, the  
            California State Lottery, California Friday Night Live  
            Partnership, California Gaming Association, the California  
            Tribal Business Alliance, Media Solutions, NICOS Chinese  
            Health Coalition, National Asian Pacific American Families  
            Against Substance Abuse, and the UCLA Gambling Studies Program  
            have joined with the Office of Problem Gambling within the  
            Department of Public Health and the California Council on  
            Problem Gambling to raise awareness and urge Californians  
            "Don't ignore the signs" of gambling disorder.


          This resolution recognizes the month of March 2015 as National  
          Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the agencies and  
          organizations described above be commended for their concerted  
          effort to raise public awareness of problem gambling.


          Prior Legislation


          HR 31 (Hall, 2014) recognized the week of March 2, 2014, to  
          March 8, 2014, inclusive, as Problem Gambling Awareness Week.   
          The resolution was adopted by the Assembly.


          FISCAL EFFECT:   Appropriation:    No          Fiscal  
          Com.:NoLocal:    No


          SUPPORT:   (Verified4/7/15)









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          California Council on Problem Gambling (source)


          OPPOSITION:   (Verified4/7/15)


          None received



          
          Prepared by:Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520
          4/8/15 15:13:09





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