1.This Act may be cited as
the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act
of 2010
.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)Problem gambling
is a public health disorder characterized by increasing preoccupation with
gambling, loss of control, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop
gambling, and continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting,
serious, negative consequences.
(2)Over 6,000,000
adults met criteria for a gambling problem last year.
(3)The estimated
social cost to families and communities from bankruptcy, divorce, job loss, and
criminal justice costs associated with problem gambling was $6,700,000,000 last
year.
(4)Problem gambling
is associated with higher incidences of bankruptcy, domestic abuse, and
suicide.
(5)People who engage
in problem gambling have high rates of co-occurring substance abuse and mental
health disorders.
(6)In response to
current budget shortfalls, many States are considering enacting or have enacted
legislation to expand legal gambling activities with the intent of raising
State revenues.
(7)The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is the lead Federal agency for
substance abuse and mental health services.
(8)There are no
agencies or individuals in the Federal Government with formal responsibility
for problem gambling.
3.Inclusion of
authority to address gambling in SAMHSA authoritiesSection 501(d) of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa(d)) is amended—
(1)by striking
and
at the end of paragraph (17);
(2)by striking the
period at the end of paragraph (18) and inserting ; and
;
and
(3)by adding at the
end the following:
(19)establish and
implement programs for the identification, prevention, and treatment of
pathological and other problem
gambling.
.
4.Programs to
research, prevent, and address problem gamblingTitle V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended—
(1)by redesignating part G (42 U.S.C. 290kk et
seq.), relating to services provided through religious organizations and added
by section 144 of the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (114 Stat.
2763A–619), as enacted into law by section 1(a)(7) of Public Law 106–554, as
part J;
(2)by redesignating
sections 581 through 584 of that part J as sections 596 through 596C,
respectively; and
(3)by adding at the
end the following:
KPrograms to
research, prevent, and address problem gambling
597.
(a)The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall
carry out a national campaign to increase knowledge and raise awareness within
the general public with respect to problem gambling issues. In carrying out the
campaign, the Secretary shall carry out activities that include augmenting and
supporting existing (as of the date of the support) national campaigns and
producing and placing public service announcements.
(b)In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
may—
(1)coordinate the
voluntary donation of, and administer, resources to assist in the
implementation of new programs and the augmentation and support of existing
national campaigns to provide national strategies for dissemination of
information, intended to address problem gambling, from—
(A)television,
radio, motion pictures, cable communications, and the print media;
(B)the advertising
industry;
(C)the business
sector of the United States; and
(D)professional
sports organizations and associations; and
(2)encourage media
outlets throughout the country to provide information, aimed at preventing
problem gambling, including public service announcements, documentary films,
and advertisements.
(c)In
carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall target radio and television
audiences of events including sporting and gambling events.
(d)In
carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of
activities under this section. The Secretary shall submit a report to the
President and Congress containing the results of the evaluation.
(e)Authorization
of appropriationsFor the purpose of carrying out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2011
through 2015.
597A.
(a)The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall
establish and implement a national program of research on problem
gambling.
(b)National
gambling impact study commission reportIn carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall consider the recommendations that appear in
chapter 8 of the June 18, 1999, report of the National Gambling Impact Study
Commission.
(c)Authorization
of appropriationsFor the purpose of carrying out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011
through 2015.
597B.
(a)
(1)The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, shall
make grants to States, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit agencies to
provide comprehensive services with respect to treatment and prevention of
problem gambling issues and education about problem gambling issues.
(2)To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an
entity shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, in such
manner, and containing such agreements, assurances, and information as the
Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this subsection.
(b)Treatment
improvement protocolThe Secretary shall develop a treatment
improvement protocol specific to problem gambling.
(c)Authorization
of appropriationsFor the purpose of carrying out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2011 through
2015.
.