SB 381 — AN ACT REQUIRING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PROBLEM GAMBLING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

381158 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

2023381 ReferredSenate, toMarch 24, 2026 The Committee on HIGHERHigher EDUCATIONEducation ANDand EMPLOYMENTEmployment ADVANCEMENTAdvancement Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(HED)SLAP ANof ACTthe REQUIRING5th PROGRAMSDist., CONCERNINGChairperson PROBLEMof GAMBLINGthe ATCommittee PUBLICon INSTITUTIONSthe OFpart HIGHERof EDUCATION.the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT REQUIRING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PROBLEM GAMBLING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

LCOSB381 2023/ 1File of 2 Raised Bill No.

381158 This1 actSB381 shallFile takeNo. effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section158 1This Julyact 1,shall 2026take Neweffect sectionas HEDfollows Jointand Favorableshall LCOamend 2023the 2following ofsections: 2

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section HED Joint Favorable SB381 / File No.

158 2 SB381 File No.

158 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Constituent Units of Higher OF - Cost Potential Potential Education Note:

OF= Other Funds Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill results in a potential cost annually beginning in FY 27 to the constituent units of higher education.

It requires each public institution of higher education to conduct one on-campus program concerning problem gambling each year.

The per campus cost of one problem gambling program can vary significantly depending ontheprogram'sitinerary.

Costassociatedwith educational materials, event space and technology, speaker fees, and food and refreshments could be up to $10,000.

At $5,000 per campus:

(1) at UConn, this results in an annual cost of $25,000 across Storrs and the four regional campuses;

and (2) at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, thisresultsinan annual cost of$80,000acrossthefour state universities and 12 CT State campuses.

The bill allows UConn and CSCU to each contract with a nonprofit to conduct problem gambling programming.

If the contract requires the nonprofit to cover all, or a portion of, the program cost, the above stated cost could be significantly reduced or eliminated.

The Out Years SB381 / File No.

158 3 SB381 File No.

158 The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to the cost of problem gambling programs, andtheprovisionsofcontractsthe constituent unitsof higher education enter into with nonprofits.

SB381 / File No.

158 4 SB381 File No.

158 OLR Bill Analysis SB 381 AN ACT REQUIRING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PROBLEM GAMBLING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

SUMMARY This bill requires public higher education institutions to provide an on-campus problem gambling program at least once each academic year.

The program must have information about on-campus and community resources that treat and rehabilitate problem gambling.

Under the bill, “problem gambling” is compulsive gambling or an uncontrollable urge to continue gambling regardless of its negative impacts on the person’s life.

The bill permits an institution to contract with a nonprofit organization for this program, but the institution must give priority to a nonprofit organization that receives funds from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ (DMHAS) compulsive gamblers treatment and rehabilitation program.

By law, this DMHAS program gives funding to regional behavioral health action organizations and nonprofit organizations, including the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2026 COMMITTEE ACTION Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee Joint Favorable Yea 17 Nay 1 (03/12/2026) SB381 / File No.

158 5