Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

HB 2173

Brief Description:  Authorizing the state lottery to participate in shared games.

Sponsors:  Representatives Clements (co‑prime sponsor), Conway (co‑prime sponsor), B. Chandler, Wood, Kenney and Alexander.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The lottery commission is authorized to participate with other states in shared lottery games for the purpose of generating funds for school construction.

Hearing Date:  2/26/01

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background: 

The Washington State Lottery Commission is authorized to regulate and conduct lottery games for the purpose of generating state funds to be used for the general welfare of the people.  The commission adopts rules governing the type of games, price of tickets, number and size of prizes, location of sales, commission paid to sales agents, and other matters necessary for the efficient and economical operation of the lottery.

Legislative approval is required before the commission may enter into agreements with other states for shared games.

Initiative 728 requires that moneys in the lottery account be used for purposes of: 1) prizes; 2) administrative costs; 3) state reserves; 4) school construction and student achievement; 5) and retirement of the baseball stadium bond.

Summary of Bill: 

The lottery commission is authorized to participate with other states in offering shared lottery games in Washington for the purpose of generating funds for school construction.  Moneys generated from shared games are deposited in the common school construction fund.  The phrase ?moneys generated from shared lottery games@ is added to the list of sources of funding for K-12 school construction.

Rules Authority:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 26, 2001.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.