Budget shortfall threatens problem gambling bill

David Strow

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

Nevada's budget shortfall is raising fears that funds won't be available for a bill designed to combat problem gambling in the state.

In March, the Senate Judiciary Committee introduced Senate Bill 335, which would be the state's first law taking concrete steps to help treatment and educational programs dealing with problem gambling. That legislation includes a $250,000 appropriation from the state's general fund to a new account that would fund prevention and treatment programs.

The Judiciary Committee has already passed the bill, and it is set to go before the Senate Finance Committee Friday. But with the announcement that the state is already projected to run $121.5 million in deficits over the next two years, there are growing fears the state's seed funding for problem gambling could be doomed.

"We could be the victim of bad timing here," said Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. "It is somewhat discouraging that we're seeing this introduced at a time when there are a lot of challenges to finding the funding for it."

Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is the primary backer of SB335. He could not immediately reached for comment.

But if the Finance Committee cannot find funds for SB335, O'Hare believes the bill should still move forward.

In addition to the fund, there are three new problem gambling measures that would be implemented. First, the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling would receive a non-voting seat on the state's Gaming Policy Committee. Second, state judges could begin offering convicted criminals an option to seek treatment for problem gambling in lieu of other punishment, if problem gambling was a factor in their crime. Finally, the bill would make problem gambling a subject of educational efforts in the state's school system.

"I hope the bill would not be dismissed purely from a financial perspective," O'Hare said. "It's a lot more than just the money, and that's the thing we have to pay attention to."