1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to gambling; providing eligibility for 
  1.3             participation as a provider in the state compulsive 
  1.4             gambling program; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, 
  1.5             section 245.98, subdivision 2. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 245.98, 
  1.8   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 2.  [PROGRAM.] The commissioner of human services 
  1.10  shall establish a program for the treatment of compulsive 
  1.11  gamblers.  The commissioner may contract with a nonprofit entity 
  1.12  with expertise regarding the treatment of compulsive gambling to 
  1.13  operate the program.  The program may include the establishment 
  1.14  of a statewide toll-free number, resource library, public 
  1.15  education programs; regional in-service training programs and 
  1.16  conferences for health care professionals, educators, treatment 
  1.17  providers, employee assistance programs, and criminal justice 
  1.18  representatives; and the establishment of certification 
  1.19  standards for programs and service providers.  The commissioner 
  1.20  may enter into agreements with other governmental or nonprofit 
  1.21  entities and may employ or contract with consultants to 
  1.22  facilitate the provision of these services or the training of 
  1.23  individuals to qualify them to provide these services.  The 
  1.24  program may also include inpatient and outpatient treatment and 
  1.25  rehabilitation services and research studies.  The research 
  2.1   studies must include baseline and prevalence studies for 
  2.2   adolescents and adults to identify those at the highest risk. 
  2.3   The program must be approved by the commissioner before it is 
  2.4   established.  
  2.5      Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.6      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.