SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2411

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 1992

Brief Description:  Providing for the reduction of problem gambling.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Commerce & Labor (originally sponsored by Representatives O'Brien, G. Cole, Heavey and Scott)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Staff:  Traci Anderson (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Money in the state lottery account is used only for:  the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares; deposit into the reserve account and the lottery administrative account; deposit into the state's general fund; the purchase and promotion of lottery games and game-related services; and the payment of agent compensation.

Despite the language in the statute indicating that money in the lottery account may be used for making deposits into the housing trust fund, no lottery money is deposited into that fund.  The legislation that was to provide funding from the lottery to the housing trust fund was never enacted.

SUMMARY:

A nonprofit state-based organization, selected by the Office of Financial Management, with expertise in public education, research, training, treatment, and prevention of problem and compulsive gambling, is given the following duties:  (1) to maintain a toll-free 800 compulsive gambling telephone line to provide crisis counseling and referral services; (2) to promote public awareness about compulsive gambling; (3) to facilitate the availability of effective assistance programs for problem or compulsive gamblers; and (4) to conduct studies identifying populations who are, or are at risk of becoming, problem or compulsive gamblers.

The compulsive gambling fund is created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  The State Treasurer is authorized to receive gifts, grants, donations, devices, and bequests of moneys for this fund from a governmental agency, public or private entity, or an individual contributor.  The fund shall be used for the purposes of the nonprofit organization selected to carry out the purposes of this act.

An unspecified amount of money from the state lottery account may be used to carry out the purposes of this act.

The superfluous language concerning the housing trust fund in the state lottery statute is eliminated.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 24, 1992