HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1637

 

 

 



As Passed Legislature

 

Title: An act relating to information for compulsive gamblers.

 

Brief Description: Promoting education on compulsive gambling.

 

Sponsors: By Representatives Wood, Conway, Kenney, Hudgins, McCoy, Moeller, Linville, Santos, Upthegrove and Rockefeller.


Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Commerce & Labor: 2/10/03, 2/13/03 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/28/03, 96-0.

Passed Senate: 4/9/03, 45-1.

Passed Legislature.

 

Brief Summary of Bill

•    Authorizes the Gambling, Horse Racing, and Lottery Commissions to contract for services to provide for public awareness and training on problem gambling.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR


Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Holmquist, Kenney and McCoy.

 

Staff: Matt Cooper (786-7106).

 

Background:

 

The Gambling Commission, the Horse Racing Commission, and the Lottery Commission (Commissions) oversee all legal gambling in Washington.

 

One of the Commissions' responsibilities is to inform the public about problem gambling. The Commissions have jointly developed informational signs about problem gambling that are posted in all establishments that conduct any form of gambling.

 

 

 

Summary of Bill:

 

The Commissions must jointly provide the public with information on problem gambling. The Commissions may contract with qualified entities for services to provide for public awareness and training on problem gambling.

 

 

 

Appropriation: None.

 

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

 

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For: This would allow the Commissions the ability to contract for problem gambling education and training services. These are services that the Council on Problem Gambling has previously provided to the Commissions. The Commissions need explicit authority to contract for these services. These services are important to ensure that people with gambling problems know how to seek treatment.

 

Testimony Against: None.

 

Testified: Representative Wood, prime sponsor; and Gary Hansen and Steve Griffiths, Washington Council on Problem Gambling.