Current Status Bill Number:3769 Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution JR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970401 Primary Sponsor:Spearman All Sponsors:Spearman, Cromer and Mullen Drafted Document Number:jic\6001ac.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM Subject:Lotteries, State; to be conducted, revenue used for scholarships to college in-state residents; Gambling
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19970401 Introduced, read first time, 30 HWM referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION AGAINST LOTTERIES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE TO CONDUCT LOTTERIES AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN PERCENT OF REVENUES GENERATED BY THE LOTTERY MAY BE USED FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, THAT FIFTY PERCENT MUST BE EXPENDED IN PRIZES, AND THAT THE REMAINDER MUST BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR IN-STATE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND IN-STATE POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 7, Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:
"Section 7. Except when conducted by the State, no lottery shall ever be is allowed or may be advertised by newspapers, or otherwise, or its tickets be sold in this State. Only the State may conduct lotteries as provided for by the General Assembly. The revenues from the state lottery must be paid into a state lottery fund to be invested by the State Treasurer with interest earned remaining a part of the fund. No more than fifteen percent of the revenues each year may be used for operational expenses of the state lottery, and fifty percent of the revenues must be expended in prizes. The remaining
revenues each year must be used to provide scholarships to in-state residents to attend post-secondary institutions in this State in the manner the General Assembly shall provide by law but to include at a minimum the requirement that the student achieve at least a 'B' average in high school and achieve a score set by law on a college scholastic aptitude test or achievement test.
The game of bingo, when conducted by charitable, religious, or fraternal organizations exempt from federal income taxation or when conducted at recognized annual state and county fairs, shall is not be deemed considered a lottery prohibited by this section."
SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:
"Must Section 7, Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to authorize lotteries to be conducted only by the State as provided for by the General Assembly with the revenues each year used to provide scholarships to in-state residents to attend post-secondary institutions in this State in the manner the General Assembly shall provide by law but to include at a minimum the requirement that the student achieve at least a 'B' average in high school and achieve a score set by law on a college scholastic aptitude test or achievement test?
Yes []
No []
Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."