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AN ACT

RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT; CREATING THE COMPULSIVE

GAMBLING COUNCIL; PRESCRIBING DUTIES; PROVIDING FOR

MEMBERSHIP.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Department of Health

Act is enacted to read:

"COMPULSIVE GAMBLING COUNCIL--DUTIES--MEMBERSHIP.--

A. The "compulsive gambling council" is created.

The council is administratively attached to the department

pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act. The council

consists of the following fifteen members, all of whom shall

be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor:

(1) the secretary or the secretary's

designee, who shall serve as chair of the council;

(2) a member of the governor's staff;

(3) a member of the gaming control board;

(4) a member of the board of directors of

the New Mexico lottery authority;

(5) a member of a fraternal organization

that sponsors gambling;

(6) two persons with expertise in the field

of compulsive gambling;

(7) two Native American representatives from

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a tribe or pueblo with gaming operations;

(8) two representatives of the non-Native

American gaming industry;

(9) two representatives from the behavioral

health profession; and

(10) two representatives from the general

public.

B. The council shall meet regularly and at the

call of the chair.

C. A majority of the council constitutes a quorum.

D. Council members shall serve voluntarily and

shall receive no per diem for their services or travel

expenses.

E. The council shall:

(1) develop and implement a New Mexico

strategic prevention and treatment of compulsive gambling

plan;

(2) recommend to the department compulsive

gambling prevention and treatment standards;

(3) collaborate with the appropriate state

agencies to link compulsive gambling data collection and

referral information to crisis response hotlines or youth and

domestic violence initiatives;

(4) collaborate with the department to

improve data collection regarding gambling-related suicide,

bankruptcies and domestic violence;

(5) collaborate with the department and the

aging and long-term services department to educate New Mexico

seniors through prevention training and materials regarding

the recognition and treatment of compulsive gambling problems;

and

(6) develop and recommend to the governor a

voluntary self-exclusion program.

F. Beginning in 2008, the council shall submit an

annual report to the governor and the appropriate legislative

interim committee reporting the key findings and progress on

implementation of the New Mexico strategic prevention and

treatment of compulsive gambling plan.

G. Two copies of the annual report shall be filed

with the legislative council service library annually

beginning in August 2008." HB 267

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