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

Senate
SB381 / File No. 158 1

General Assembly File No. 158
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 381

Senate, March 24, 2026

The Committee on Higher Education and Employment
Advancement reported through SEN. SLAP of the 5th Dist.,
Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the
bill ought to pass.

AN ACT REQUIRING PROGRAMS CONCERNING PROBLEM
GAMBLING AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) Each public institution of 1
higher education in the state shall provide an on-campus program 2
concerning problem gambling at least once each academic year. Such 3
program shall include, but need not be limited to, information about any 4
on-campus and community resources available for the treatment and 5
rehabilitation of problem gambling. Any institution may contract with 6
a nonprofit organization to provide such program at such institution. 7
Each institution that enters into such a contract shall give priority to any 8
nonprofit organization receiving funds pursuant to section 17a -713 of 9
the general statutes. As used in this section, "problem gambling" means 10
when an individual engages in compulsive gambling or has an 11
uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite any negative impact on 12
such individual's life. 13
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section

HED Joint Favorable

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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
Education
OF - Cost Potential Potential
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 on the program's itinerary. Cost associated with
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, this results in an annual cost of $80,000 across the four 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 require s 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
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The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the cost of problem gambling
programs, and the provisions of contracts the constituent units of higher
education enter into with nonprofits.

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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 t he 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 fund s 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)