An Act To Provide Gambling Addiction Counseling Services through the Office of Substance Abuse
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0987
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PERRY, MARRACHE, GROSE, WALCOTT
Amends: 5 MRSA §20002, 5 MRSA §20003, 5 MRSA §20005

Legislative Document 
No. 987 
H.P.747 
House of Representatives, March 2, 2007 
An Act To Provide Gambling Addiction Counseling Services 
through the Office of Substance Abuse 
Submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PERRY of Calais. 
77/~ 
/J7. 7l!&U~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator MARRACHE of Kennebec and 
Representatives: GROSE of Woolwich, WALCOTT of Lewiston. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §20002, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 2, § 13, is amended to read: 
§20002. Purpose 
The purposes of this Act are: 
1. Integrated and comprehensive approach. To adopt an integrated approach to 
the problem of alcohol and other drug abuse and to focus all the varied resources of the 
State on developing a comprehensive and effective range of alcohol and other drug abuse 
prevention and treatment activities and services; ;md 
2. Single administrative unit. To establish a single administrative unit within the 
Department of Health and Human Services, with responsibility for planning, developing, 
implementing, coordinating and evaluating all of the State's alcohol and other drug abuse 
prevention and treatment activities and services~~ 
3. Tobacco use by juveniles. To enforce the State's laws relating to the sale and use 
of tobacco products by juveniles and to coordinate state and local activities related to 
those provisions. The office shall take all necessary actions to ensure compliance with 
the Synar Act, 42 United States Code 300X-26, including the preparations of reports for 
the signature of the Governor. 
All law enforcement agencies, all state departments, 
including the Department of Public Safety, and municipalities shall cooperate with the 
office in these efforts. 
The office may enter into any contracts or agreements necessary or incidental to the 
performance of its duties under this section, subject to section 20005, subsection 6 and 
section 20005-A. The office shall provide or assist in the provision of voluntary training 
programs regarding the sales of tobacco products to juveniles~; and 
4. Gambling addiction counseling. To establish standards for the provision of 
gambling addiction counseling services and other activities relating to the prevention and 
treatment of gambling addiction. The office may accept private, state and federal funds 
to support the performance of its duties under this subsection. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §20003, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1991, c. 601, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
4. Community service provider. "Community service provider" means a provider 
of alcohol or drug abuse treatment or gambling addiction treatment, including, but not 
limited to, evaluation. 
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §20005, sub-§6, ~A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. L, §5 
and affected by § 16, is further amended to read: 
A. 
Administer all contracts with community service providers for the delivery of 
alcohol and drug abuse services; ;md 
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §20005, sub-§6, ~A-l is enacted to read: 
A-I. 
Administer all contracts with community service providers for the delivery of 
gamblin~addiction counseling services; and 
Sec. 5. 5 MRS A §20005-A, first ~, as amended by PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. L, §6 and 
affected by § 16, is further amended to read: 
In addition to other applicable requirements and unless precluded by other restrictions 
on the use of funds, the commissioner shall manage all funds available for the provision 
of alcohol or other drug abuse services, as well as all funds available for the provision of 
gambling addiction counseling services, in accordance with the provisions of this section. 
SUMMARY 
This bill gives the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance 
Abuse the authority to establish standards governing the provision of gambling addiction 
counseling services, as well as to administer contracts with community service providers 
who meet those standards and are funded with money administered by the office. 
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