A 9239: Establishes a problem gambling research institute to examine and find solutions to problem gambling in the state of New York; creates a fund to fund such problem gambling institute.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9239 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY November 7, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation to creating a problem gambling research institute and fund The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 355-f 2 to read as follows: 3 § 355-f. New York state problem gambling research institute. 1. Insti- 4 tute formation and goals. Subject to amounts available by appropriation, 5 the New York state problem gambling research institute, hereinafter the 6 "institute", is hereby created within the state university of New York. 7 The purposes of the institute shall include: 8 (a) advising the governor, governmental agencies, the regents, and the 9 legislature on matters relating to problem gambling in New York state; 10 (b) fostering, pursuing, and sponsoring collaborative problem gambling 11 research; 12 (c) increasing understanding by establishing and reporting on what is 13 known and what is not known about problem gambling in the state; 14 (d) identifying priority needs for problem gambling research within 15 New York that currently is not receiving adequate attention, and identi- 16 fying public or private entities that are best situated to address such 17 needs, thereby leading to better coordination of problem gambling 18 research efforts in the state; 19 (e) promoting awareness of existing and new sources of problem gambl- 20 ing information and problem gambling while educating elected officials, 21 governmental agencies, and the general public on problem gambling issues 22 through such means as it may determine; 23 (f) organizing and sponsoring meetings on problem gambling topics; 24 (g) encouraging the establishment of networks of collaborating experts 25 engaged in related aspects of problem gambling research; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13712-02-5 
 A. 9239 2 1 (h) raising sensitivity to problem gambling concerns among state and 2 local government agencies, and serving as a forum for enhanced intera- 3 gency information sharing and cooperation; 4 (i) recommending priority activities for funding through the problem 5 gambling research fund, created pursuant to section ninety-seven-bbbbb 6 of the state finance law; 7 (j) working on a continuing basis with policymakers in the legislature 8 and state agencies to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative prob- 9 lem gambling prevention policies and programs; 10 (k) recruiting and providing specialized training opportunities for 11 new researchers, including experienced investigators in related fields 12 who are beginning work on problem gambling, young investigators who have 13 completed their education, postdoctoral scholars, doctoral students, and 14 undergraduates; and 15 (l) providing copies of their research publications to the legislature 16 and to agencies supplying data used in the conduct of such research as 17 soon as is practicable following publication. 18 2. Research. The institute shall foster, pursue, and sponsor basic, 19 translational, and transformative research, field studies, and all other 20 such activities to research: 21 (a) user interface design elements that contribute to the addictive 22 nature of online gambling; 23 (b) the nature of problem gambling, including individual and societal 24 determinants of risk for involvement in problem gambling; 25 (c) the individual, community, and societal consequences of problem 26 gambling; 27 (d) the prevention and treatment of problem gambling at the individ- 28 ual, community, and societal levels; and 29 (e) the effectiveness of existing laws and policies intended to reduce 30 problem gambling, and efforts to promote responsible gambling. 31 3. Education and information transfer programs. To the extent possi- 32 ble, the institute shall foster the collection, transfer, and applica- 33 tion of problem gambling information in the state by: 34 (a) fostering access, compatibility, interchange, and synthesis of 35 data about problem gambling maintained by public entities, academic and 36 research institutions, and private organizations; 37 (b) employing advanced technology to coordinate for ease of use of the 38 scattered problem gambling resources of the state; and 39 (c) supporting the preparation and publication of interpretative works 40 that draw upon problem gambling resources. 41 4. Quinquennial reports. The institute shall prepare and submit a 42 report within one year of the effective date of this section and every 43 five years thereafter to the governor and the legislature describing 44 programs undertaken or sponsored by the institute, the status of know- 45 ledge regarding problem gambling in the state, and research needs 46 related thereto. 47 5. Executive committee. The institute shall be guided by an executive 48 committee. Members of the committee shall be from varying backgrounds 49 with members selected from the scientific community, academic community, 50 as well as from government service. Such committee shall consist of 51 fourteen members including the commissioner, the chair of the gaming 52 commission or their designee, the commissioner of the office of 53 addiction services and supports, the commissioner of mental health, the 54 chancellor of the university or their designee, three at large members 55 appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the temporary presi- 56 dent of the senate, one member appointed by the minority leader of the 
 A. 9239 3 1 senate, two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, and one 2 member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. Appointed 3 members shall serve for a term of three years, provided that such 4 members may be reappointed. The executive committee shall: 5 (a) adopt policies, procedures, and criteria governing the programs 6 and operations of the institute; 7 (b) recommend to the governor and legislature appropriate actions to 8 reduce problem gambling within the state; 9 (c) develop and implement the research, education, and information 10 transfer programs of the institute; 11 (d) identify and rate proposals for problem gambling research; 12 (e) submit to the director of the budget, and the chairpersons of the 13 senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means committee on 14 the first day of October, two thousand twenty-six and on or before 15 August first each year thereafter, a budget request for the expenditure 16 of funds available from the problem gambling research fund, for the 17 purposes established by section ninety-seven-bbbbb of the state finance 18 law; and 19 (f) meet publicly at least twice a year. The committee shall widely 20 disseminate notice of its meetings at least two weeks prior to each 21 meeting. The commissioners on the executive committee and the chancellor 22 of the university shall aid in such dissemination. 23 6. Scientific working group. The institute shall appoint a scientific 24 working group consisting of individuals having knowledge and expertise 25 in problem gambling research which shall advise and make recommendations 26 to the institute regarding its research and information programs. 27 7. Institute director. The institute shall have a director who shall 28 be appointed by the executive committee and shall after appointment be 29 an employee of the state university. The institute director shall serve 30 at the pleasure of the executive committee. The institute director shall 31 serve as chief administrative officer of the institute and provide the 32 necessary support for the executive committee. 33 8. Compensation. The members of the executive committee and the scien- 34 tific working group shall serve without additional compensation, but 35 shall be eligible to receive reimbursement for their actual and neces- 36 sary expenses from the problem gambling research fund established by 37 section ninety-seven-bbbbb of the state finance law, provided however, 38 members of the executive committee representing state agencies may 39 receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses from their 40 respective agencies. Members of the executive committee and scientific 41 working group shall be considered state employees for the purposes of 42 sections seventeen and nineteen of the public officers law. 43 9. Memorandum of understanding. The state university of New York, the 44 department of mental health, the gaming commission, and the office of 45 addiction services and supports shall enter into a written memorandum of 46 understanding to facilitate the appropriate implementation of the prob- 47 lem gambling research institute and the goals, responsibilities, and 48 programs established by this section. 49 § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-bbbbb 50 to read as follows: 51 § 97-bbbbb. Problem gambling research fund. 1. There is hereby estab- 52 lished in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commission- 53 er of taxation and finance a fund to be known as the problem gambling 54 research fund. 55 2. The problem gambling research fund shall consist of all moneys 56 credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source, including 
 A. 9239 4 1 any federal, state, or private funds, pursuant to law for the purposes 2 of problem gambling research. 3 3. Moneys in the problem gambling research fund may be invested by the 4 comptroller pursuant to section ninety-eight-a of this article, and any 5 income received by the comptroller shall be used for the purposes of 6 such fund. 7 4. The moneys held in or credited to the fund shall be expended for 8 the purposes set forth in this section, and may not be interchanged or 9 commingled with any other account or fund but may be commingled with any 10 other fund or account for investment purposes. 11 5. Moneys in the problem gambling research fund, following appropri- 12 ation by the legislature, shall be available to the New York problem 13 gambling research institute for its activities as set forth in section 14 three hundred fifty-five-f of the education law. 15 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.