A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-11.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transfers from the charitable gaming operating fund to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund; and to authorize a full-time equivalent position for the department of health and human services.
Summary
SB 2393 would change how money in North Dakota’s charitable gaming operating fund is distributed. The bill increases the quarterly transfer to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund from $10,000 to $33,500, with that money available for gambling disorder prevention and treatment activities, including support for Department of Health and Human Services staff. It also continues the existing framework for distributing a portion of the fund to cities and counties based on gaming tax collections, subject to legislative appropriations.
The bill also keeps in place the requirement that, near the end of each biennium, the attorney general certify excess balances in the charitable gaming operating fund and direct the state treasurer to transfer those excess amounts to the general fund. In addition, SB 2393 would authorize one full-time equivalent position in the Department of Health and Human Services for gambling disorder prevention and treatment during the 2025-2027 biennium.
Impact
If enacted, SB 2393 would amend North Dakota Century Code section 53-06.1-11.2 governing the charitable gaming operating fund, increasing the statutory allocation for gambling disorder prevention and treatment and explicitly supporting a DHHS staff position. It would affect the distribution of gaming-related revenues among state prevention programs, local governments, and the general fund, while leaving the broader charitable gaming funding structure intact.
Sentiment
The bill did not advance, failing on Senate second reading by a vote of 5-42. That vote indicates limited support in the chamber, and the absence of committee transcript discussion suggests there was not a recorded public debate in the provided materials. Overall, the available voting history points to a negative legislative reception rather than broad bipartisan backing.
Contention
The likely point of contention was the proposed increase in the amount diverted from the charitable gaming operating fund to gambling disorder prevention and treatment, along with the authorization of a new full-time equivalent position. Opponents may have viewed the increase as reducing funds available for other uses, including local city and county distributions or transfers to the general fund, while supporters likely saw it as a modest but necessary investment in prevention and treatment services tied to gaming activity.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-11.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to transfers from the charitable gaming operating fund to the gambling disorder prevention and treatment fund; and to authorize a full-time equivalent position for the department of health and human services.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to two organizations conducting charitable gaming at the same site.
The structure of the state gaming commission and the administration and regulation of games of chance; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for application.
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 53-06.1-01.1 and 53-06.1-15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the structure of the state gaming commission and the administration and regulation of games of chance; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for application.
AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to securing approval for a gaming site authorization.