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An Act To Designate Special Funds To Help Support Maine Military Families
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §374, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Veterans cash lottery game.     No later than January 30, 2008, the Maine State Lottery Commission, in consultation with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services, shall develop and initiate a veterans lottery game designed to raise funds for the Veterans Cash Fund established pursuant to Title 37-B, section 505. The Maine State Lottery Commission shall provide the net proceeds of this veterans lottery game to the Veterans Cash Fund annually.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §387, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §18 and affected by c. 614, §9, is further amended to read:
 
1. Appropriation.   The money in the State Lottery Fund may be appropriated only:
 
A.  For the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares;
 
B.  For the expense of the division in its operation of the lottery;
 
C.  For payment to the General Fund; and
 
D.  For payment to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund pursuant to Title 12, section 10302.; and
 
E.  For payment to the Veterans Cash Fund pursuant to Title 37-B, section 505.
Sec. 3. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Veterans Cash Fund; established.     There is established the Veterans Cash Fund. The fund consists of revenue received pursuant to Title 8, section 387. The fund, to be accounted within the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services, must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year must be carried forward to the next fiscal year. The fund is for the sole purpose of providing services and benefits to veterans in a manner to be determined by the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services.
 
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Maine State Lottery Commission and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services to design and establish a veterans cash lottery game. The proceeds from the game will go to support the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services. This bill also establishes the Veterans Cash Fund, an interest-bearing account into which the net revenue from the lottery ticket sales will be deposited.