NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A661A
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law and the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, in relation to gambling and the creation of a
self-exclusion request for removal form
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation will help individuals who place themselves on the
gambling self-exclusion list access treatment and ensure that individ-
uals are aware of how to place themselves on such list.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law by adding a
new subdivisions (1).
Section two amends section 111 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and
breeding law. Section three sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
One method used to promote responsible gaming and address compulsive
gambling is called a self-exclusion list. Self-exclusion lists are used
nationwide by many gaming facilities to encourage responsible gaining.
In most states, including New York, gaming facilities must offer the
ability for an individual to voluntarily place themselves on a self-ex-
clusion list which will prevent them from entering, placing a wager, or
collecting winnings from a gambling facility. In addition, if an indi-
vidual is seen on the premises of a facility, they may be escorted off
the casino's property, and if necessary, with the use of local law
enforcement.
Almost every state that has a self-exclusion list clearly defines its
program for all of its facilities by including common provisions and/or
regulations such as the process for an individual to place oneself on a
self-exclusion list; the length of time they are required to remain on
the list; who is responsible for maintaining and updating the list and
who is allowed access to the list of names currently participating in
the program, and the responsibilities of the gaming facility in assist-
ing the individual from violating the rules set forth by the state's
self- exclusion program.
However, more must be done to ensure that individuals are aware of the
treatment opportunities available for those in need, as well as aware-
ness of how one may place themselves on the self-exclusion list. This
legislation will require that people be provided informational materials
upon placing themselves on the self-exclusion list that contain informa-
tion on available treatment opportunities for problem gambling. It will
also require that gaming facilities place information about the self-ex-
clusion list by all entrances, exits and ATM machines.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A.589-A - Reported to Ways and Means; S.8811- Referred to Rules
2017-18: A.5080 - Passed Assembly; S.648 - Advanced to Third Reading
2015-16: A.7059 - Reported to Ways and Means; S.6364 - Referred to Alco-
holism and Drug Abuse
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after is
shall have become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
661--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, in relation to gambling and the creation of
a self-exclusion request for removal form
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 19.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision (l) to read as follows:
3 (l) The commissioner shall identify or develop educational materials
4 regarding compulsive gambling for the purpose of informing individuals
5 about the dangers of problem gambling as well as treatment opportunities
6 that may be available to them. Such educational materials shall be
7 provided to individuals when they voluntarily place themselves on a
8 self-exclusion list of an association or corporation licensed or enfran-
9 chised by the New York state gaming commission pursuant to section one
10 hundred eleven of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law.
11 Such materials shall also be made available on the website of the
12 office. To the extent that a gaming facility licensed pursuant to arti-
13 cle thirteen of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law has
14 already created materials pursuant to section thirteen hundred sixty-two
15 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law that effectuate the
16 intent of this subdivision, such educational materials may be utilized
17 by the gaming facility instead of ones identified or developed by the
18 commissioner.
19 § 2. Section 111 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law,
20 as added by section 1 of part A of chapter 60 of the laws of 2012, is
21 amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00436-04-1
A. 661--A 2
1 § 111. Compulsive gambling assistance. 1. The commission shall cooper-
2 ate with the commissioner of [alcoholism and substance abuse] addiction
3 services and supports to ensure the posting of signs and listing of
4 information on the internet designed to assist compulsive gamblers
5 pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (h) of section 19.09 of the
6 mental hygiene law. Such postings shall include information explaining
7 how an individual may add his or her name to the list of self-excluded
8 persons. Signs shall be posted at a reasonable distance from each
9 entrance, exit and automated teller machine in the facility.
10 2. (a) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant
11 to which people may voluntarily exclude themselves from entering the
12 premises of an association or corporation licensed or enfranchised by
13 the commission pursuant to this chapter. In promulgating such rules and
14 regulations the commission shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that
15 there is consistency in the process followed under each division in
16 which an individual may voluntarily exclude themselves. Such rules and
17 regulations shall provide that:
18 (i) an association or corporation licensed or enfranchised pursuant
19 to this chapter maintain an updated list of all persons who have
20 requested exclusion pursuant to this section and shall submit such list
21 to the commission no less than every five days;
22 (ii) an association or corporation licensed or enfranchised pursuant
23 to this chapter shall not offer coupons, market its services, or send
24 advertisements to or otherwise solicit the patronage of, a self-excluded
25 person; and
26 (iii) no employee or agent of an association or corporation licensed
27 or enfranchised pursuant to this chapter shall divulge any name of a
28 self-excluded person, other than to authorized surveillance, security or
29 other personnel whose duties and functions require access to such infor-
30 mation, the division, the commission or their duly authorized represen-
31 tatives.
32 (b) An association or corporation licensed or enfranchised pursuant to
33 this chapter shall not be liable to any self-excluded person or to any
34 other party in any judicial proceeding for any harm, monetary or other-
35 wise, which may arise as a result of a self-excluded person's engaging
36 in gaming activity while on the list of self-excluded persons; provided
37 that nothing contained in this paragraph shall limit the liability of
38 any such association, corporation, or facility for any other acts or
39 omissions under any other statutory law or under the common law.
40 (c) No voluntary order or request to exclude persons from entering the
41 premises of any such association, corporation, or facility may be
42 rescinded, canceled, or declared null and void until seven days after a
43 request has been received by such association, corporation, or facility
44 to cancel such order or request.
45 3. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations under which a
46 person with an account authorized pursuant to section one thousand
47 twelve of this chapter may voluntarily place limits on the amounts of
48 his or her wagers or potential wagers on a daily or weekly basis. No
49 order from a person to remove any limit placed on account wagers shall
50 be effective until seven days after it has been received by the entity
51 conducting account wagering.
52 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
53 it shall have become a law.