BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to creating a program for compulsive gambling education and awareness; amending RCW 9.46.071, 67.70.240, and 67.16.095; making an appropriation; and providing a contingent effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 9.46.071 and 1994 c 218 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature recognizes that some individuals in this state are problem or compulsive gamblers. Because the state promotes and regulates gambling through the activities of the state lottery commission, the Washington horse racing commission, and the Washington state gambling commission, the state has the responsibility to continue to provide resources for the support of services for problem and compulsive gamblers. ((~~Therefore,~~))

(2) The Washington state gambling commission, the Washington horse racing commission, and the state lottery commission shall jointly develop informational signs concerning problem and compulsive gambling which include a toll-free hot line number for problem and compulsive gamblers. The signs shall be placed in the establishments of gambling licensees, horse racing licensees, and lottery retailers.

(3) The Washington state gambling commission shall establish, in consultation with the state lottery commission and the Washington horse racing commission, one or more programs to increase awareness of problem and compulsive gambling, to curb problem and compulsive gambling, and to identify and treat problem and compulsive gamblers. These programs may include preparing, publishing, and distributing educational materials on the nature and effects of problem and compulsive gambling.

(4) The Washington state gambling commission, in developing and implementing programs under subsection (3) of this section, may enlist the assistance of, and contract with, other public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals for carrying out the programs.

(5) The Washington state gambling commission may require a licensee who operates house-banked or player-funded social card games to have a plan for dealing with problem and compulsive gamblers on its gambling premises, which may include: (a) Prominent posting of notices of agencies providing services to problem or compulsive gamblers and warnings about problem gambling; (b) reasonable accessibility to patrons of printed materials addressing problem or compulsive gambling; and (c) education and training of employees in identifying persons who exhibit problem or compulsive gambling conduct.

(6) To carry out the purposes of this section, the Washington state gambling commission shall annually disburse from the gambling revolving fund not less than ten percent of any surplus moneys in such fund in excess of expenses relative to commission business.

Sec. 2. RCW 67.70.240 and 1997 c 220 s 206 (Referendum Bill No. 48) are each amended to read as follows:

The moneys in the state lottery account shall be used only:

(1) For the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares;

(2) For purposes of making deposits into the reserve account created by RCW 67.70.250 and into the lottery administrative account created by RCW 67.70.260;

(3) For purposes of making deposits into the state's general fund;

(4) For distribution to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs. Three million dollars shall be distributed under this subsection during calendar year 1996. During subsequent years, such distributions shall equal the prior year's distributions increased by four percent. Distributions under this subsection shall cease when the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium are retired, but not more than twenty years after the tax under RCW 82.14.0485 is first imposed;

(5) For distribution to the stadium and exhibition center account, created in RCW 43.99N.060. Subject to the conditions of RCW 43.99N.070, six million dollars shall be distributed under this subsection during the calendar year 1998. During subsequent years, such distribution shall equal the prior year's distributions increased by four percent. No distribution may be made under this subsection after December 31, 1999, unless the conditions for issuance of the bonds under RCW 43.99N.020(2) are met. Distributions under this subsection shall cease when the bonds are retired, but not later than December 31, 2020;

(6) For the purchase and promotion of lottery games and game-related services and, from the state lottery's advertising budget, for the purposes of RCW 9.46.071; and

(7) For the payment of agent compensation.

The office of financial management shall require the allotment of all expenses paid from the account and shall report to the ways and means committees of the senate and house of representatives any changes in the allotments.

Sec. 3. RCW 67.16.095 and 1998 c 345 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All sums paid to the commission under this chapter, including those sums collected for license fees and excluding those sums collected under RCW 67.16.102 and 67.16.105(3), shall be disposed of by the commission as follows:

(a) Fifty percent thereof shall be retained by the commission for the payment of the salaries of its members, secretary, clerical, office, and other help and all expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. No salary, wages, expenses, or compensation of any kind shall be paid by the state in connection with the work of the commission.

(b) One percent shall, on the next business day following the receipt thereof, be paid to the state treasurer to be deposited in the general fund.

(c) Three percent shall, on the next business day following the receipt thereof, be paid to the state treasurer to be deposited in the state trade fair fund created in RCW 43.31.805.

(d) Forty-six percent shall, on the next business day following the receipt thereof, be paid to the state treasurer to be deposited in the fair fund created in RCW 15.76.115.

(2) Any moneys collected or paid to the commission under the terms of this chapter and not expended at the close of the fiscal biennium shall be paid to the state treasurer, who shall place ten percent of those moneys into the gambling revolving fund created under RCW 9.46.100, to be used by the Washington state gambling commission solely for the support of its program for problem and compulsive gambling established under RCW 9.46.071, and the remainder of the moneys shall be placed in the general fund. The commission may, with the approval of the office of financial management, retain any sum required for working capital.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2001, from the state lottery account under RCW 67.70.240(6) to the Washington state gambling commission for the purposes of section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Section 3 of this act takes effect July 1, 2001, if the repeal under RCW 43.131.396 becomes effective.