FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 6108

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.

C 576 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Allowing the state lottery commission to enter into an agreement to conduct an additional shared lottery game.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Holmquist and Kohl-Welles).

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Ways & Means

Background: The Washington Lottery (Lottery) was established in 1982. Lottery revenues, after payment of prizes and administrative expenses, are used for education construction, paying off stadium bonds, problem gambling services, economic development, and the General Fund.

In 2002 the Legislature authorized the Lottery to participate in a multistate shared game lottery. After a transfer of 0.013 percent to the Problem Gambling Account, revenues from the shared game lottery are transferred to the Education Construction Account until it reaches $102 million. If the total revenues transferred to the Education Construction Account reach $102 million, any amounts remaining after the transfers to the Education Construction Account are deposited into the General Fund.

There are two multistate lottery game organizations with various member states: the Mega Millions consortium, of which Washington is a member, has 12 member states; and, the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs Powerball games, has 29 member states and the District of Columbia.

Summary: The Washington State Lottery Commission is authorized to enter into an agreement for a second multi-state lottery game known as Powerball. After distributions to the Education Construction Account, net revenues from the Powerball game will be transferred to the state General Fund for the Student Achievement Program.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate

35

12

House

60

35

(House amended)

Senate

31

15

(Senate concurred)

Effective:

July 26, 2009