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 REVENUES GENERATED BY THE LOTTERY AFTER LOTTERY ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES AND PRIZES MUST BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR IN-STATE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND IN-STATE POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS WITH REVENUES IN EXCESS OF SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS TO BE USED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION.

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 no less than fifty percent of the revenues must be expended in prizes. Revenues remaining after the expenses of lottery administration and prizes 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. If in any year lottery revenues exceed the scholarship program requirements, the excess revenues must be used for public school building construction and renovation in the manner the General Assembly shall provide by law.

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, after deducting not more than fifteen percent for operational expenses and not less than fifty percent for prizes, 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, and to provide for revenues in excess of the scholarship program requirements in any year to be used for public school building construction and renovation in the manner the General Assembly provides by law?

Those voting in favor of the lottery shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the lottery shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."