Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

HB 1387

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning the distribution of shared game lottery proceeds to the Washington opportunity pathways account.

Sponsors: Representatives Stanford, MacEwen, Ryu, Goodman, Appleton, Volz, Tharinger, Bergquist, Kloba and Ormsby.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Modifies the distribution of lottery revenue from the Shared Lottery Account.

Hearing Date: 1/28/19

Staff: Linda Merelle (786-7092).

Background:

The Washington Lottery allows for the sale of tickets for in-state games and for multi-jurisdictional games, such as Mega Millions and Powerball. The revenues from the sale of lottery tickets are distributed primarily from two accounts: the State Lottery Account and the Shared Lottery Account.

State Lottery Account.

The moneys in the State Lottery Account are used for the payment of prizes and payments into the Lottery Administrative Account for administrative and operating costs. The moneys are also used for:

Shared Lottery Account.

The moneys in the Shared Lottery Account may be used:

After these distributions, the remaining net revenues in the Shared Lottery Account must be deposited into the Opportunity Pathways Account.

Washington Opportunity Pathways Account.

The Opportunity Pathways Account was created in 2010, and its source of revenue is the Washington Lottery. Expenditures from the Opportunity Pathways Account may only be used for charter schools, state work-study programs, certain post-secondary financial grants and awards, and early childhood education.

Summary of Bill:

Moneys from the Shared Lottery Account are no longer distributed to the State General Fund. They are distributed solely to the Problem Gambling Account and the Opportunity Pathways Account.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.