A new bill aims to make more recovering drug addicts eligible for job positions in Atlantic City’s casino industry
Recovering drug addicts in New Jersey could soon have more opportunities to work in the state’s casino industry as the state Senate voted Tuesday to pass a bill that would make residents recovering from addiction eligible to work at Atlantic City’s nine operational gambling facilities.
Under current law, people convicted of particular drug offenses cannot be issued casino employee licenses from the state’s gambling regulator. Anyone employed in the New Jersey casino industry is required to obtain this license.
Local news outlet The Press of Atlantic City reported Tuesday that the status quo could soon change as lawmakers are spearheading efforts to open more doors for people who are recovering from drug addiction. Senators Chris Brown and Jeff Van Drew sponsored the piece of legislation. After receiving overwhelming support in the Senate, the bill now needs to be reviewed in the General Assembly.
Some of the New Jersey residents charged with drug-related offences are eligible to participate in special probation programs, including a drug court, or recovery court as it has recently been renamed in Atlantic and Cape May Counties.
The Press of Atlantic City writes citing state data that there are more than 6,500 people currently participating in the drug court program. It also has over 5,400 graduates. According to program coordinators, about 95% of monthly drug tests come back negative.
Breaking Out the Cycle of Addiction
Under the bill, everyone who has successfully completed a special probation term and is interested to work in the state’s casino industry would be eligible for a casino employee license from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Commenting on their effort to open more job opportunities for people recovering from drug addiction, Sen. Van Drew said in a statement that their legislative piece aims to help people who have become “victims of the drug scourge” to find employment in Atlantic City’s casinos and “break out the cycle of addiction and crime.”
Sen. Brown added that allowing people recovering from drug addiction to participate in the local casino industry, which has long been one of the largest employers in South Jersey, is a way for communities to help and support such people.
The legislator further pointed out that they got the idea for their bill from local developer Joe Jingoli, a partner in the recently launched Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, who said he wanted more people in recovery to be offered a second chance.
News emerged earlier this year that Hard Rock’s Atlantic City property would be hiring recovery court graduates, with Mr. Jingoli saying that a person was sober and lived a sober life there was no reason why they should not be hired in Atlantic City’s casino industry.
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