BILL REQ. #:  Z-0696.1 



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HOUSE BILL 2281
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State of Washington63rd Legislature2014 Regular Session

By Representatives Vick, Holy, Hurst, and Condotta; by request of Washington State Lottery

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Government Accountability & Oversight.



     AN ACT Relating to state lottery efficiency; amending RCW 67.70.040, 67.70.050, and 67.70.340; and repealing RCW 67.70.042.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 67.70.040 and 2006 c 290 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The commission shall have the power, and it shall be its duty:
     (1) To adopt rules governing the establishment and operation of a state lottery as it deems necessary and desirable in order that such a lottery be initiated at the earliest feasible and practicable time, and in order that such lottery produce the maximum amount of net revenues for the state consonant with the dignity of the state and the general welfare of the people. Such rules shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
     (a) The type of lottery to be conducted which may include the selling of tickets or shares, but such tickets or shares may not be sold over the internet. The use of electronic or mechanical devices or video terminals which allow for individual play against such devices or terminals shall be prohibited. An affirmative vote of sixty percent of both houses of the legislature is required before offering any game allowing or requiring a player to become eligible for a prize or to otherwise play any portion of the game by interacting with any device or terminal involving digital, video, or other electronic representations of any game of chance, including scratch tickets, pull-tabs, bingo, poker or other cards, dice, roulette, keno, or slot machines. Approval of the legislature shall be required before entering any agreement with other state lotteries to conduct shared games;
     (b) The price, or prices, of tickets or shares in the lottery;
     (c) The numbers and sizes of the prizes on the winning tickets or shares;
     (d) The manner of selecting the winning tickets or shares, except as limited by (a) of this subsection;
     (e) The manner and time of payment of prizes to the holder of winning tickets or shares which, at the director's option, may be paid in lump sum amounts or installments over a period of years;
     (f) The frequency of the drawings or selections of winning tickets or shares. Approval of the legislature is required before conducting any online game in which the drawing or selection of winning tickets occurs more frequently than once every twenty-four hours;
     (g) Without limit as to number, the type or types of locations at which tickets or shares may be sold;
     (h) The method to be used in selling tickets or shares, except as limited by (a) of this subsection;
     (i) The licensing of agents to sell or distribute tickets or shares, except that a person under the age of eighteen shall not be licensed as an agent;
     (j) The manner and amount of compensation, if any, to be paid licensed sales agents necessary to provide for the adequate availability of tickets or shares to prospective buyers and for the convenience of the public;
     (k) The apportionment of the total revenues accruing from the sale of lottery tickets or shares and from all other sources among: (i) The payment of prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares, which shall not be less than forty-five percent of the gross annual revenue from such lottery, (ii) transfers to the lottery administrative account created by RCW 67.70.260, and (iii) transfer to the state's general fund. Transfers to the state general fund shall be made in compliance with RCW 43.01.050;
     (l) Such other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient and economical operation and administration of the lottery and for the convenience of the purchasers of tickets or shares and the holders of winning tickets or shares.
     (2) To ensure that in each place authorized to sell lottery tickets or shares, ((on the back of the ticket or share, and in any advertising or promotion)) there shall be conspicuously displayed an estimate of the probability of purchasing a winning ticket on the lottery ticket or share and in any advertising or promotion.
     (3) To amend, repeal, or supplement any such rules from time to time as it deems necessary or desirable.
     (4) To advise and make recommendations to the director for the operation and administration of the lottery.

Sec. 2   RCW 67.70.050 and 2012 c 117 s 307 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is created the office of director of the state lottery. The director shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall receive such salary as is determined by the governor, but in no case may the director's salary be more than ninety percent of the salary of the governor. The director shall:
     (1) Supervise and administer the operation of the lottery in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and with the rules of the commission.
     (2) Appoint such deputy and assistant directors as may be required to carry out the functions and duties of his or her office: PROVIDED, That the provisions of the state civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW, shall not apply to such deputy and assistant directors.
     (3) Appoint such professional, technical, and clerical assistants and employees as may be necessary to perform the duties imposed by this chapter: PROVIDED, That the provisions of the state civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW, shall not apply to such employees as are engaged in undercover audit or investigative work or security operations but shall apply to other employees appointed by the director, except as provided for in subsection (2) of this section.
     (4) In accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules of the commission, license as agents to sell or distribute lottery tickets such persons as in his or her opinion will best serve the public convenience and promote the sale of tickets or shares. The director may require a bond from any licensed agent, in such amount as provided in the rules of the commission. Every licensed agent shall prominently display his or her license, or a copy thereof, as provided in the rules of the commission. License fees may be established by the commission, and, if established, shall be deposited in the state lottery account created by RCW 67.70.230.
     (5) Confer regularly as necessary or desirable with the commission on the operation and administration of the lottery; make available for inspection by the commission, upon request, all books, records, files, and other information and documents of the lottery; and advise the commission and recommend such matters as the director deems necessary and advisable to improve the operation and administration of the lottery.
     (6) Subject to the applicable laws relating to public contracts, enter into contracts for the operation of the lottery, or any part thereof, and into contracts for the promotion of the lottery. No contract awarded or entered into by the director may be assigned by the holder thereof except by specific approval of the commission: PROVIDED, That nothing in this chapter authorizes the director to enter into public contracts for the regular and permanent administration of the lottery after the initial development and implementation.
     (7) Certify ((quarterly)) annually to the state treasurer and the commission a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses for the preceding ((quarter)) year.
     (8) Carry on a continuous study and investigation of the lottery throughout the state: (a) For the purpose of ascertaining any defects in this chapter or in the rules issued thereunder by reason whereof any abuses in the administration and operation of the lottery or any evasion of this chapter or the rules may arise or be practiced, (b) for the purpose of formulating recommendations for changes in this chapter and the rules promulgated thereunder to prevent such abuses and evasions, (c) to guard against the use of this chapter and the rules issued thereunder as a cloak for the carrying on of professional gambling and crime, and (d) to ensure that this chapter and rules shall be in such form and be so administered as to serve the true purposes of this chapter.
     (9) Make a continuous study and investigation of: (a) The operation and the administration of similar laws which may be in effect in other states or countries, (b) the operation of an additional game or games for the benefit of a particular program or purpose, (c) any literature on the subject which from time to time may be published or available, (d) any federal laws which may affect the operation of the lottery, and (e) the reaction of the citizens of this state to existing and potential features of the lottery with a view to recommending or effecting changes that will tend to serve the purposes of this chapter.
     (10) Have all enforcement powers granted in chapter 9.46 RCW.
     (11) Perform all other matters and things necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 3   RCW 67.70.340 and 2012 1st sp.s. c 10 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature recognizes that creating a shared game lottery could result in less revenue being raised by the existing state lottery ticket sales. The legislature further recognizes that the fund most impacted by this potential event is the Washington opportunity pathways account. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to use some of the proceeds from the shared game lottery to make up the difference that the potential state lottery revenue loss would have on the Washington opportunity pathways account. The legislature further intends to use some of the proceeds from the shared game lottery to fund programs and services related to problem and pathological gambling.
     (2) The Washington opportunity pathways account is expected to receive one hundred two million dollars annually from state lottery games other than the shared game lottery. For fiscal year 2011 and thereafter, if the amount of lottery revenues earmarked for the Washington opportunity pathways account is less than one hundred two million dollars, the commission, after making the transfer required under subsection (3) of this section, must transfer sufficient moneys from revenues derived from the shared game lottery into the Washington opportunity pathways account to bring the total revenue up to one hundred two million dollars.
     (3)(a) The commission shall transfer, from revenue derived from the shared game lottery, to the problem gambling account created in RCW 43.20A.892, an amount equal to the percentage specified in (b) of this subsection of net receipts. For purposes of this subsection, "net receipts" means the difference between (i) revenue received from the sale of lottery tickets or shares and revenue received from the sale of shared game lottery tickets or shares; and (ii) the sum of payments made to winners.
     (b) In fiscal year 2006, the percentage to be transferred to the problem gambling account is one-tenth of one percent. In fiscal year 2007 and subsequent fiscal years, the percentage to be transferred to the problem gambling account is thirteen one-hundredths of one percent.
     (4) ((The commission shall transfer the remaining net revenues, if any, derived from the shared game lottery "Powerball" authorized in RCW 67.70.044(1) after the transfers pursuant to this section into the state general fund for support for the program of basic education under RCW 28A.150.200.
     (5)
)) The remaining net revenues, if any, in the shared game lottery account after the transfers pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Washington opportunity pathways account.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   RCW 67.70.042 (Scratch games -- Baseball stadium construction) and 1997 c 220 s 207 & 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 104 are each repealed.

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