H 3081 Joint Resolution, By Spearman, Kelley, Knotts, Keegan, Edge and Harrison

Similar(S 40)
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE XVII OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO LOTTERIES, SO AS TO
 AUTHORIZE LOTTERIES CONDUCTED ONLY BY THE STATE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF
 THE REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE LOTTERIES.

   12/09/98  House  Prefiled
   12/09/98  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/12/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-33
   01/12/99  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-33

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO LOTTERIES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE LOTTERIES CONDUCTED ONLY BY THE STATE AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF THE REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE LOTTERIES.

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, and these state lotteries must be conducted in the manner that the General Assembly provides by law, except that no more than six percent of total lottery revenues may be used for lottery administration and at least fifty percent of such revenues must be awarded in prizes. The remaining lottery revenues must be credited to a separate fund in the State Treasury styled the 'Education Improvement Account', and the earnings on this account must be credited to it. Education Improvement Account proceeds may be used only for education improvement purposes as the General Assembly provides 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 only when conducted by the State in the manner that the General Assembly provides by law with no more than six percent of total lottery revenues used for lottery administration and at least fifty percent of such revenues awarded in prizes with the remaining revenues credited to a separate 'Education Improvement Account' in the State Treasury, the earnings on which are credited to this account, with all account proceeds used only for education improvements as the General Assembly provides by law?

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'."