BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2197
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Joe Coto, Chair
AB 2197 (Coto) - As Introduced: February 18, 2010
SUBJECT : Problem and pathological gambling.
SUMMARY : Requires the Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) within
the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP) to include
specific education and awareness outreach efforts within its
existing prevention programs, and authorizes OPG to use existing
funds to develop a grant program as specified. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Requires OPG to include in its problem gambling prevention
program the development of problem gambling education and
awareness programs that specifically target geographically
diverse multicultural populations.
2)Authorizes OPG to include in its program to support problem
and pathological gambling treatment services a grant program
for education, outreach, and prevention. In establishing the
grant program, the office may give preference to grant
applications that do any of the following:
a) Provide matching funds to coordinate efforts and
maximize the effectiveness of limited funds to raise
awareness and change the behavior of at-risk populations.
b) Target geographically diverse multicultural populations.
c) Educate youth.
1)Makes technical and conforming changes to existing law.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the OPG within DADP and sets forth it duties
relating to prevention and control of problem and pathological
gambling, as defined.
2)Requires OPG to develop a problem gambling prevention program,
which shall be the first priority for funding appropriated to
this office. The prevention program shall be based upon the
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allocation priorities established by DADP.
3)Requires OPG to develop a program to support treatment
services for California residents with problem and
pathological gambling issues. The program shall be based upon
the allocation priorities established by DADP.
FISCAL EFFECT : The cost associated with this bill is minor,
less than $50,000.
COMMENTS :
Background : The Act was passed establishing, among other
things, the Office of Compulsive Gambling (OCG) within the
Department of Mental Health. However, funding for OCG was never
appropriated for the next five years. Then, in 2003, the Office
of Problem Gambling was established pursuant to AB 673 (Horton),
Chapter 210, Statutes of 2003.
In 2003-04, $3 million was appropriated from the Indian Gaming
Special Distribution Fund (SDF), however, nearly the entire $3
million was not spent and reverted back to the SDF. In 2004-05,
$3 million was included in the May Revision to fund OPG, and the
office has since received approximately $3 million each year
until fiscal year (FY) 2008-09 whereby the appropriation was
increased to $8.2 million. In addition, beginning in the FY
2007-08, OPG began receiving approximately $150,000 a year from
additional table fees imposed on card clubs in California. The
approximately $8.4 million is divided between state operations
($1 million for treatment and $3.4 for prevention), and local
assistance ($4 million for treatment). Administrative costs for
the program are limited to 10% of the total funding budgeted.
When OPG was created, the first priority mandated by the
Legislature was to develop a problem gambling prevention program
consisting of the following activities and services: 1) A
toll-free telephone service for immediate crises management and
containment with subsequent referral of problem and pathological
gamblers to health providers who can provide treatment for
gambling related problems and to self-help groups; 2) Public
awareness campaigns that focus on prevention and education among
the general public including, for example, dissemination of
youth oriented preventive literature, educational experiences,
and public service announcements in the media; 3) Empirically
driven research programs focusing on epidemiology/prevalence,
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etiology/causation, and best practices in prevention and
treatment; 4) Training of health care professionals and
educators, and training for law enforcement agencies and
nonprofit organizations in the identification of problem
gambling behavior and knowledge of referral services and
treatment programs; and 5) Training of gambling industry
personnel in identifying customers at risk for problem and
pathological gambling and knowledge of referral and treatment
services.
In designing and developing the overall program, DADP was
directed to do all of the following: 1) Develop a statewide plan
to address problem and pathological gambling; 2) Adopt any
regulations necessary to administer the program.; 3) Develop
priorities for funding services and criteria for distributing
program funds; 4) Monitor the expenditures of state funds by
agencies and organizations receiving program funding; and 5)
Evaluate the effectiveness of services provided through the
program.
Purpose of the bill : AB 1577 is intended to update and bring
consistency to the state's problem and pathological gambling
laws. For example, the law currently requires OPG's problem
gambling treatment efforts to include services that are relevant
to the needs of diverse multicultural populations, but the law
does not require OPG to provide any gambling education or
prevention services for such populations.
Additionally, the law requires OPG's problem gambling prevention
program to target youths, but it does not require its treatment
program to provide problem gambling services to youths. AB 1577
eliminates those inconsistencies in the law by ensuring OPG's
programs provide prevention and treatment services to
geographically diverse multicultural populations and our youth.
This measure will require OPG to develop problem gambling
education and awareness programs that specifically target
geographically diverse multicultural populations. The bill also
authorizes OPG to develop a grant program for education,
outreach, and prevention. Preference may be given to the
following: 1) grant applicants that provide matching funds to
coordinate efforts and maximize the effectiveness of
limited funds to raise awareness and change the behavior of
at-risk populations; 2) applicants that target geographically
diverse multicultural populations; and, 3) applicants that
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educate youth.
According to the OPG, all administrative expenses will be funded
from existing resources in the revenue that is currently
received.
Prior legislation : AB 1577 (Coto) of 2009-2010 Legislative
Session. Would have required OPG within the Department of
Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP) to include specific education
and awareness outreach efforts within its existing prevention
programs, and authorizes OPG to use existing funds to develop a
grant program as specified. (Vetoed by the Governor)
SB 1616 (Florez), 2007-2008 Legislative Session. Would have
authorized OPG to establish training programs to increase the
number of therapists who can treat problem or pathological
gamblers. Would have required OPG to establish a grant program
to designing and implement the therapist training program and a
stepped-care treatment program. (Held in Senate Appropriations)
AB 1339 (Torrico), 2007-2008 Legislative Session. Would have
required OPG to develop a statewide strategic plan for the
prevention, intervention, treatment and research of problem and
pathological gambling behaviors in California. Would have
required OPG to pursue policy changes and funding requests to
achieve the goals and objectives of the strategic plan. (Vetoed
by the Governor)
AB 673 (Horton), Chapter 210, Statutes of 2003. Renamed and
relocated the Office of Compulsive Gambling within the
Department of Mental Health to the Office of Problem Gambling
within the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Requires
OPG to develop a problem gambling prevention program and a
program to support treatment services. Made the first
appropriation from the SDF to fund OPG.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
AB 2197
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Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531