Sec. 5. Crisis hotline. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall ensure that the statewide mental health crisis 24-hour hotline administered by the Department of Health and Human Services accepts calls from and provides referrals for persons who have gambling or alcohol issues or other substance abuse and addiction issues.

Sec. 6. Alcohol abuse signs. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall create a sign listing the statewide mental health crisis 24-hour hotline administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that a person may call to discuss alcohol abuse issues pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A, section 15. The commissioner shall make the sign available on-line to be downloaded and printed or upon request of a licensee under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-A, chapters 19, 43 and 45.

SUMMARY

This bill does the following.

1. It requires lottery advertisements to include the odds of winning the jackpot and the telephone number of statewide mental health crisis hotline administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that a person may call about gambling addiction.

2. It prohibits the purchase of lottery tickets with a credit card.

3. It requires most alcohol retailers to post a sign listing the telephone number of statewide mental health crisis 24-hour hotline administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that a person may call who has substance abuse issues.

4. It requires the State Liquor and Lottery Commission to double the size of the print of the odds of winning on lottery tickets and to display on both sides of the ticket the odds of winning the jackpot and a 24-hour hotline telephone number.

5. It directs the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to ensure that a statewide mental health crisis 24-hour hotline administered by the Department of Health and Human Services accepts calls from and provides referrals for persons who have alcohol or gambling issues or other substance abuse and addiction issues.