CALIFORNIA WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 4369-4369.5

4369. There is in the department the Office of Compulsive Gambling. 4369.1. As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (a) "Compulsive gambling" means any problem or pathological gambling. (b) "Compulsive gambling prevention programs" means programs designed to reduce the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling among California residents. (c) "Office" means the Office of Compulsive Gambling. (d) "Pathological gambling" means an impulse control disorder that meets the diagnostic criteria set forth in the diagnostic and statistical manual version 4 of the American Psychiatric Association. (e) "Problem gambling" means patterns of gambling-related behavior that compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family, educational, and vocational pursuits. The term includes pathological and compulsive gambling. 4369.2. (a) The office shall develop a comprehensive gambling prevention program for problem and pathological gamblers within the state. The comprehensive program shall consist of all of the following: (1) Prevention and education services to the general public. (2) A toll-free telephone service for crisis intervention and referral of compulsive gamblers to compulsive gambling counselors and self-help groups. (3) Research into the origin, causes, treatment, and prevalence of problem gambling and pathological gambling among juveniles and adults. (4) Treatment services for problem and pathological gamblers and their immediate families, including, but not limited to, outpatient services, intensive outpatient services, after-care services, and inpatient services to those persons requiring specialized care. (5) Training of certified, registered, licensed health professionals in the area of problem and underage gambling. (b) The office shall make information available as requested by the Governor and the Legislature with respect to the comprehensive program. 4369.3. In designing and developing the program, the office shall do all of the following: (a) Develop a statewide plan to address the problem of pathological gambling. (b) Adopt any regulations necessary to administer the program. (c) Develop priorities for funding services and develop criteria for distributing program funds. (d) Monitor the expenditures of state funds by agencies and organizations receiving program funding. (e) Evaluate the effectiveness of services provided through the program. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any contracts required to meet the requirements of this chapter are exempt from the requirements contained in the Public Contract Code and the State Administrative Manual, and are exempt from the approval of the Department of General Services. (g) The first and highest priority of the office with respect to the use of any funds appropriated for the purposes of this chapter shall be to carry out subdivision (a). 4369.4. All state agencies, including, but not limited to, the California Horse Racing Board, any agency that is created to regulate casino gambling or cardrooms within the state, the Department of Corrections, the California Youth Authority, the State Department of Health Services, and the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, but not including the California State Lottery, shall coordinate with the office to ensure that state programs take into account, as much as practicable, problem and pathological gamblers. The office shall also coordinate and work with other entities involved in gambling and the treatment of problem and pathological gamblers. 4369.5. This chapter shall not become operative until funds are appropriated to the Department of Mental Health to carry out this chapter in legislation enacted subsequent to the act that added this chapter to the Welfare and Institutions Code, or in the annual Budget Act.