S-0710.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 5234

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Senators Benton, Johnson, Finkbeiner, Roach, Schow, Deccio, Morton, Rossi, McDonald, West, Oke and Hale

 

Read first time 01/20/97.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

 

Dedicating revenue to K through 12 education through state lottery revenues.



    AN ACT Relating to dedicating revenue to K through 12 education through state lottery revenues; amending RCW 67.70.040, 67.70.190, and 67.70.240; and creating a new section.

 

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

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 67.70.040 and 1994 c 218 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

    The commission shall have the power, and it shall be its duty:

    (1) To promulgate such 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.  The use of electronic or mechanical devices or video terminals which allow for individual play against such devices or terminals shall be prohibited.  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;

    (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 on-line 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;

    (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)) education support account.  Transfers to the ((state general fund)) education support account 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.

    (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 67.70.190 and 1994 c 218 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Unclaimed prizes shall be retained in the state lottery account for the person entitled thereto for one hundred eighty days after the drawing in which the prize is won, or after the official end of the game for instant prizes.  If no claim is made for the prize within this time, the prize shall be ((retained in the state lottery fund for further use as prizes)) used as provided in subsection (2) of this section, and all rights to the prize shall be extinguished.

    (2) Moneys from unclaimed prizes shall be used as follows:

    (a) Fifty percent of the moneys, not exceeding one million dollars, shall be deposited quarterly in the education support account.

    (b) The remainder of the moneys shall be retained in the state lottery account for further use as prizes.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 67.70.240 and 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 105 are each amended to read as follows:

    The moneys in the state lottery account shall be used only:  (1) For the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares; (2) for purposes of making deposits into the reserve account created by RCW 67.70.250 and into the lottery administrative account created by RCW 67.70.260; (3) for purposes of making deposits into the ((state's general fund; (4) for purposes of making deposits into the housing trust fund under the provisions of section 7 of this 1987 act; (5))) education support account; (4) for distribution to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs; (((6))) (5) for the purchase and promotion of lottery games and game-related services; and (((7))) (6) for the payment of agent compensation.  Three million dollars shall be distributed under subsection (((5))) (4) of this section during calendar year 1996.  During subsequent years, such distributions shall equal the prior year's distributions increased by four percent.  Distributions under subsection (((5))) (4) of this section shall cease when the bonds issued for the construction of the baseball stadium are retired, but not more than twenty years after the tax under RCW 82.14.0485 is first imposed.

    The office of financial management shall require the allotment of all expenses paid from the account and shall report to the ways and means committees of the senate and house of representatives any changes in the allotments.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  The education support account is created in the state treasury.  All receipts from the state lottery directed to this account shall be deposited into the account.  Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.  Only the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee may authorize expenditures from the account.

 


                            --- END ---