GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

H                                                                                                                                                   3

HOUSE BILL 1289

Committee Substitute Favorable 5/5/09

Senate Commerce Committee Substitute Adopted 7/14/09

 

Short Title:        Lottery-No Check Cashing Sites/High Sch. Ads.

(Public)

Sponsors:

 

Referred to:

 

April 9, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to forbid contracting as lottery retailers businesses who primarily cash checks, drafts, or money orders and to prohibit any State lottery advertising or sponsorship related to high school sports or high school sporting events.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 18C-141  reads as rewritten:

"§ 18C-141.  Selection of lottery game retailers.

(a)        The Director shall recommend to the Commission those persons with whom to contract as lottery game retailers. To the extent practicable, the Director shall meet the minority participation goals under Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.

(b)        The Director may not recommend contracting with any of the following:

(1)        A natural person under 21 years of age. This minimum age shall not prohibit employees of a lottery game retailer who are under 21 years of age from selling lottery tickets or shares during their employment.

(2)        A person who would be engaged exclusively in the business of selling lottery tickets or shares or operating electronic computer terminals or other devices solely for entertainment.

(3)        A person who is not current in filing all applicable tax returns to the State and in payment of all taxes, interest, and penalties owed to the State, excluding items under formal appeal under applicable statutes. Upon request of the Director, the Department of Revenue shall provide this information about a specific person to the Commission.

(4)        A person who resides in the same household as a member of the Commission, the Director, or any other employee of the Commission.

(5)        A person who would have, other than lottery sales, the cashing of checks, drafts, or money orders as the majority of net revenue.

(c)        Upon approval of the Commission, the Director shall enter into a contract with the person to sell tickets or shares upon such terms and conditions as the Commission directs."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 18C-114(a)(2) reads as rewritten:

"§ 18C-114.  Powers and duties of the Commission.

(a)        The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(2)        To prescribe the nature of lottery advertising or sponsorship which shall comply with the following:

a.         All advertising shall include resources for responsible gaming information.

b.         No advertising may intentionally target specific groups or economic classes.

c.         No advertising may be misleading, deceptive, or present any lottery game as a means of relieving any person's financial or personal difficulties.

d.         No advertising may have the primary purpose of inducing persons to participate in the Lottery.

e.         No advertising or sponsorship may take place in connection with any high school sport or high school sporting event or be placed in any high school sporting venue.

…."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law. Section 2 applies to contracts and sponsorships entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date.