ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1880

ByHouse Commerce & Gaming (originally sponsored by Representatives Kloba, Harris, Davis, Ryu, and Stanford)

AN ACT Relating to the creation of a joint legislative task force on problem gambling; adding a new section to chapter 9.46 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

Therefore, the legislature finds that a joint legislative task force is necessary in order for there to be a comprehensive review of current problem gambling funding, services, programs, and policies, including review of the gambling commission's problem gambling study, report, and recommendations. The task force will be responsible for providing recommendations to the legislature on how the state should continue to meet its responsibility to assist those who suffer from a gambling problem or disorder.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 9.46 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A joint legislative task force on problem gambling is created. The task force membership is composed of:

(a) One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

(b) One member from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(c) A representative from the health care authority;

(d) A representative from the department of health;

(e) A representative from the gambling commission;

(f) A representative from the state lottery;

(g) A representative from the horse racing commission;

(h) A representative from a nonprofit organization with experience in problem gambling treatment and recovery services;

(i) Two representatives with experience in problem gambling treatment and recovery services, at least one of whom must be from a federally recognized Indian tribe;

(j) A member of the public who is impacted by a gambling problem or gambling disorder;

(k) A representative from a problem gambling recovery group or organization;

(l) A representative from a mental health provider group or organization;

(m) A representative from a licensed gambling business or organization;

(n) A representative from a federally recognized tribal gaming operation, group, or organization; and

(o) Other representatives from federally recognized Indian tribes, state agency representatives, or stakeholder group representatives, at the discretion of the task force, for the purpose of participating in specific topic discussions or subcommittees.

(2) The task force shall engage in the following activities:

(a) Review findings of the gambling commission's problem gambling study and report completed in 2018-19;

(b) Review existing prevention, treatment, and recovery services to address problem gambling and gambling disorders in this state by public, private, and nonprofit entities;

(c) Review existing programs, services, and treatment to address problem gambling and gambling disorders in other states and the federal government;

(d) Make recommendations to the legislature regarding:

(i) How to proceed forward with a state prevalence study measuring the adult participation in gambling and adult problem gambling in this state;

(ii) Whether this state should expand state funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery services to address the need for these programs;

(iii) What steps the state should take to improve the current licensing and certification of problem gambling providers to meet the current and projected future demand for services;

(e) Identify additional problem gambling areas for consideration and any actions needed to ensure the state and/or regulatory agencies are effectively addressing problem gambling in an attempt to reduce the number of persons impacted by this disorder.

(3) Staff support for the task force must be provided by the agencies, departments, and commissions identified in subsection (1)(c) through (g) of this section. The state agencies, departments, and commissions identified in subsection (1)(c) through (g) of this section may enter into an interagency agreement related to the provision of staff support for the task force. Unless it is expressly provided for in the agreement between the agencies, departments, and commissions, nothing in this subsection requires staff of each of the agencies, departments, and commissions identified in subsection (1)(c) through (g) of this section to provide staff support to the task force.

(4) The task force shall submit a preliminary report of recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2020, and a final report by November 30, 2021.

(5) This section expires November 30, 2022.

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