GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 481

 

 

Short Title:      Restore Lottery Revenue Distrib. Structure.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representatives Boles and McNeill (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Referred to:

Appropriations

March 28, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to restore the original revenue distribution structure of the north carolina education lottery.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 7 of Chapter 18C of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:

"Article 7.

"North Carolina State Lottery Fund.

"§ 18C‑162.  Allocation of revenues.

(a)        The Commission shall allocate revenues to the North Carolina State Lottery Fund in order to increase and maximize the available revenues for education purposes, and to the extent practicable, shall adhere to the following guidelines:

(1)        At least fifty percent (50%) of the total annual revenues, as described in this Chapter, shall be returned to the public in the form of prizes.

(2)        At least thirty‑five percent (35%) of the total annual revenues, as described in this Chapter, shall be transferred as provided in G.S. 18C‑164.

(3)        No more than eight percent (8%) of the total annual revenues, as described in this Chapter, shall be allocated for payment of expenses of the Lottery. Advertising expenses shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the total annual revenues.

(4)        No more than seven percent (7%) of the face value of tickets or shares,total annual revenues, as described in this Chapter, shall be allocated for compensation paid to lottery game retailers.

"§ 18C‑164.  Transfer of net revenues.

(a)        The funds remaining in the North Carolina State Lottery Fund after receipt of all revenues to the Lottery Fund and after accrual of all obligations of the Commission for prizes and expenses shall be considered to be the net revenues of the North Carolina State Lottery Fund. The net revenues of the North Carolina State Lottery Fund shall be transferred at least four times a yearperiodically to the Education Lottery Fund, which shall be created in the State treasury.

(b)        From the Education Lottery Fund, the Office of State Budget and Management shall transfer a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the net revenue of the prior year to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund. A special revenue fund for this purpose shall be established in the State treasury to be known as the Education Lottery Reserve Fund, and that fund shall be capped at fifty million dollars ($50,000,000). Monies in the Education Lottery Reserve Fund may be appropriated only as provided in subsection (e) of this section.

(c)        The General Assembly shall appropriate the remaining net revenue of the Education Lottery Fund annually in the Current Operations Appropriations Act for education‑related purposes, based upon estimates of lottery net revenue to the Education Lottery Fund provided by the Office of State Budget and Management and the Fiscal Research Division of the Legislative Services Commission. A security interest shall not be granted in funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection.The Commission shall distribute the remaining net revenue of the Education Lottery Fund as follows:

(1)        A sum equal to fifty percent (50%) to support reduction of class size in early grades to class size allotments not exceeding 1:18 in order to eliminate achievement gaps and to support academic pre‑kindergarten programs for at‑risk four‑year‑olds who would otherwise not be served in a high‑quality education program in order to help those four‑year‑olds be prepared developmentally to succeed in school.

(2)        A sum equal to forty percent (40%) to the Public School Building Capital Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C‑546.2.

(3)        A sum equal to ten percent (10%) to the State Educational Assistance Authority to fund college and university scholarships in accordance with Article 35A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.

(d)       Repealed by Session Laws 2013‑360, s. 6.11(c), effective June 30, 2013.

(d1)     Of the sums transferred under subsection (c) of this section, the General Assembly shall appropriate the funds annually based upon estimates of lottery net revenue to the Education Lottery Fund provided by the Office of State Budget and Management and the Fiscal Research Division of the North Carolina General Assembly.

(e)        If the actual net revenues are less than the appropriation for that given year, then the Governor may transfer from the Education Lottery Reserve Fund an amount sufficient to equal the appropriation by the General Assembly. If the monies available in the Education Lottery Reserve Fund are insufficient to reach a full appropriation, the Governor shall transfer monies in order of priority to the following:

(1)        To support academic pre‑kindergarten programs for at‑risk four‑year‑olds who would otherwise not be served in a high‑quality education program in order to help those four‑year‑olds be prepared developmentally to succeed in school.

(2)        To reduce class size.

(3)        To provide financial aid for needy students to attend college.

(4)        To the Public School Building Capital Fund to be spent in accordance with this section.

(f)        Actual If the actual net revenues in excess ofexceed the amounts appropriated in a that fiscal year year, the excess net revenues shall remain in the Education Lottery Fund.Fund and then be transferred as follows:

(1)        Fifty percent (50%) to the Public School Building Capital Fund to be spent in accordance with this section.

(2)        Fifty percent (50%) to the State Educational Assistance Authority to be spent in accordance with this section."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017.