SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6459
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.
As of February 11, 2008
Title: An act relating to directing the state lottery commission to implement a raffle that awards scholarships as prizes.
Brief Description: Directing the state lottery commission to implement a raffle that awards scholarships as prizes.
Sponsors: Senator Tom.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 1/29/08.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Kathleen Buchli (786-7488)
Background: The State Lottery Commission (Commission) has the authority to adopt rules
governing the establishment of lottery games. These games include Scratch tickets, in which
players discover if they are an instant winner, and "draw" games in which players wait for the
random drawing of numbers to determine if they have won. Revenues received from the sales
of lottery tickets or shares are to be deposited into the State Lottery Account. Money in the State
Lottery Account is to be used for specific purposes including: payment of prizes, lottery
administration, and making deposits into the education construction fund.
The Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program is Washington state's 529 prepaid college
tuition program. GET allows account holders to prepay for a child's college tuition. The value
of the units purchased today will keep pace with resident undergraduate tuition and
state-mandated fees at the most expensive public university in Washington.
Summary of Bill: The Commission must conduct a raffle game to be known as WINaBRAIN. Raffles must be conducted after 100,000 tickets are sold. Four winning tickets will be awarded $25,000 to be deposited in the GET program on behalf of a student beneficiary designated by the raffle winner. Ten-thousand-five-hundred tickets will be awarded a WINaBRAIN ticket for the next raffle drawing.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: WINaBRAIN presents potential to advance
children to higher education. The odds of winning at WINaBRAIN are better than the odds of
winning the lotto games. If WINaBRAIN does as well as the worst lottery game, 96 students
would be awarded scholarships. People will be drawn to this game and its own audience will be
created; it will create an emotional response and provide an opportunity for people's dollars to
make a difference.
OTHER: Market research has not been conducted to determine what sort of demand there will
be for the game. It will take time to put this in place.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Brian Woerle, Citizen.
OTHER: Lynn Maier, Washington Lottery.