SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66
An act by concurrent resolution to conduct a study of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling in this state.
WHEREAS, gambling in its many forms is now an established aspect of life in this state; and
WHEREAS, gambling creates an unknown number of Missouri citizens that can be considered pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers; and
WHEREAS, pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers constitute an unknown cost to the state and its political subdivisions in terms of crime, bankruptcy, other bad debts, prosecution costs and social services costs; and
WHEREAS, pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers also negatively impact their families, their communities and the business community of this state; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive legal and factual study is needed to determine the true impact of pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers in this state; and
WHEREAS, the universities of this state have the personnel with both the academic and professional expertise to conduct a comprehensive legal and factual study of pathological or serious problem gamblers and problem gamblers in this state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-First General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby direct the joint committee on wagering and gaming ("committee") to solicit competitive bids from the universities of this state to conduct a comprehensive legal and factual study of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling in this state; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs the committee to select the university that submits the best and lowest bid, with primary consideration given to the institution that best demonstrates the ability to answer the study questions outlined below and possesses the economists and social scientists with the highest academic and professional qualifications and demonstrates the greatest capability to deliver the best data in response to the study questions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs that the selected university shall conduct a comprehensive study of the economic and social impact of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling in this state. The study shall include a review of existing policies and practices with respect to the prevention and treatment of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling and the formulation and proposal of necessary and appropriate changes in those policies and practices; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs all state agencies to cooperate with the selected university in any attempts to obtain information regarding any aspect or effect of pathological or serious problem gambling and problem gambling; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs the selected university to answer the following study questions:
(1) The economic impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on the economy of the state of Missouri, on Missouri businesses and on the political subdivisions of this state including, but not limited to:
(a) An assessment of the percentage of residents of this state that are pathological or serious problem gamblers;
(b) The percentage of the Missouri population that are problem gamblers; and
(c) A determination of how much money an individual pathological or serious problem gambler costs society each year in terms of crimes, bankruptcy, other bad debts, prosecution and incarceration costs and other social service costs; and the total amount of money lost annually by pathological or serious problem gamblers in this state;
(2) The economic impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on other businesses, including at least theft and decreased revenues resulting in part or in whole from the shifting of disposable income to gambling outlets and the decrease in general revenues to the state reflected in these decreased revenues;
(3) An assessment of the relationship between pathological or problem gambling and crime;
(4) An assessment of the impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on individuals, families, social institutions, criminal activity, and the economy;
(5) A review of the demographics of pathological or serious problem gamblers; and
(6) A review of the costs and effectiveness of state and federal gambling regulatory policy; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs the selected university to complete its study and submit its final report to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than January 31, 2004, which report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the university with its recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as the university deems appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs that the director of the department within the university that supervises and administers the conduct of the study may hold hearings, administer oaths, take testimony, receive evidence, and require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of materials as the director considers advisable to carry out the purposes of the study and may employ and terminate additional staff as necessary to carry out the study; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs that any subpoena of the director shall be served in the manner provided for a subpoena issued by a circuit court pursuant to Missouri rules of civil procedure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the request of the director, the General Assembly directs the head of any state agency to furnish the director with the information considered necessary by the director to carry out the study; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly may appropriate up to two hundred thousand dollars to the selected university to fund the study; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly directs that any money appropriated to the selected university to carry out the study which remains unused as of January 1, 2005 shall be transferred and placed to the credit of the state general revenue fund pursuant to section 33.080, RSMo; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a properly inscribed copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Article III, Section 31 of the Missouri Constitution.