Connecticut General Statutes Title 17A. Social and Human Services and Resources § 17a-713. Chronic gamblers treatment and rehabilitation program. Account

(a) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall establish a program for the treatment and rehabilitation of compulsive gamblers in the state. The program shall provide prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services for chronic gamblers. The department may enter into agreements with regional behavioral health action organizations and nonprofit organizations to assist in providing these services, provided not less than twenty-five per cent of the amount received pursuant to section 12-818 annually shall be set aside for contracts with regional behavioral health action organizations established pursuant to section 17a-484f and nonprofit organizations and not less than five per cent of the amount received pursuant to section 12-818 annually shall be set aside for a contract with the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling. The department may impose a reasonable fee, on a sliding scale, on those participants who can afford to pay for any such services. The department shall implement such program when the account established under subsection (b) of this section is sufficient to meet initial operating expenses. As used in this section, “chronic gambler” means a person who is chronically and progressively preoccupied with gambling and the urge to gamble, and with gambling behavior that compromises, disrupts or damages personal, family or vocational pursuits.

(b) The program established by subsection (a) of this section shall be funded by: (1) Imposition of a fee of one hundred thirty-five dollars on each association license, for each performance of jai alai conducted under the provisions of chapter 226,  1 provided no such licensee shall contribute more than forty-five thousand dollars in any one year; (2) imposition of a fee of twenty-five dollars for each teletheater performance on each operator of a teletheater facility; (3) the amount received from the Connecticut Lottery Corporation pursuant to section 12-818; and (4) any amount received pursuant to section 12-871 from the holder of a master wagering license under section 12-852. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall collect the fee from each association licensee or such operator on a monthly basis. The receipts shall be deposited in the General Fund and credited to a separate, nonlapsing chronic gamblers treatment and rehabilitation account which shall be established by the Comptroller. All moneys in the account are deemed to be appropriated and shall be expended for the purposes established in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54  2 to carry out the purposes of this section.