SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3666

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 25, 2025

      The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3666.

As amended by the committee, this bill requires each school district that includes grades nine through 12, or any combination thereof, to incorporate instruction on the potential risks of compulsive gambling into the curriculum for students as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.  Instruction will include information on the dangers of gambling addiction; taking risks with personal finances or personal assets; and probability versus predictability, as it relates to gambling.  The Commissioner of Education will provide school districts with resources designed to address the potential risks of compulsive gambling.  The Commissioner of Education is also required to develop a training module on compulsive gambling for high school teachers to help local school districts in fulfilling the requirements of integrating the risks of compulsive gambling as part of the required gambling instruction.

      As amended, the bill postpones the application of these requirements until the school year following the Commissioner's development of the required training module and the required review and update of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards performed by the State Board of Education.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments specify that curriculum developed for students include information on the difference between probability and predictability as it relates to gambling.

      The amendments also specify that the provisions of the bill will take effect following the Commissioner's development of the required training module and the required review and update of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards performed by the State Board of Education.