HOUSE BILL 684

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Kandy Cordova

AN ACT

RELATING TO GAMBLING; CONDUCTING A GAMBLING ADDICTION STUDY TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF SUICIDES AND BANKRUPTCIES IN WHICH GAMBLING DEBT IS INVOLVED; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. GAMBLING ADDICTION DATA COLLECTION.--

          A. The department of health shall begin an ongoing process of gathering data on gambling addiction in New Mexico. The department shall establish standards to determine what constitutes a compulsive or problem gambler and collect data on the percent of the population who are active gamblers or compulsive gamblers and the number of gamblers who seek treatment.

          B. The department of health shall adopt rules requiring that all suicide deaths or attempted suicides identified by law enforcement agencies or medical personnel be investigated to determine if the victim had gambling debts or compulsive gambling behaviors that may have been a factor in the cause of the suicide or the attempted suicide.

          C. The department of health shall coordinate with the bankruptcy court in New Mexico to obtain data on compulsive gambling behavior or gambling debt that is found by the court to be a factor in all bankruptcies filed in New Mexico.

          D. Beginning in fiscal year 2007, the department shall make reports at five-year intervals to an appropriate legislative interim committee no later than August on its findings regarding gambling addiction and the incidence of suicides and bankruptcies that involve gambling debt or compulsive gambling behavior in New Mexico. Two copies of the gambling report shall be filed with the legislative council service library every five years beginning in August 2007.

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred ten thousand dollars ($110,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 to gather data on gambling addiction in New Mexico, conduct a study to determine the incidence of suicides and bankruptcies that involve gambling debt or compulsive gambling behavior and report to the legislature on the department's findings. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the general fund.