NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2625
SPONSOR: Vanel TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to gaming disorders
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To amend section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law to include "Gaming
Disorder" as defined by the International Classification of Diseases
(ICD), published by the World Health Organization
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law
JUSTIFICATION:
As more and more New Yorkers play video games for extended periods,
mental health professionals, parents, educators and legislators are
becoming alarmed at the rate of students and young adults that have
exhibited signs of extreme addiction to video games. Contrary to popular
belief, video game addiction or gaming disorder can affect all age
groups and genders. On May 25, 2019, the World Health Organization voted
to adopt "gaming disorder" as a behavioral addiction in its Interna-
tional Classification of Diseases. Although 97 percent of teen boys and
83 percent of teen girls play video games, the WHO has listed the crite-
ria as someone with an inability to stop playing video games. This means
they are unable to stop when it interferes with family relationships,
school, work, and even sleep. They do not include the amount of time
played because of the prevalence of console, computer, and mobile
gaming. The Video Gaming Disorder Bill would have New York State recog-
nize gaming addiction as a disorder under the mental hygiene law.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
01/28/21referred to mental health
01/05/22referred to mental health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
N/A
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective Immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2625
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to gaming disorders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision 60 to read as follows:
3 60. "Gaming disorder" means a disorder due to addictive behavior, as
4 defined in the most recent edition of the international classification
5 of diseases (ICD), published by the World Health Organization.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03566-01-3
