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An Act To Provide That Lottery Proceeds Be Devoted to Public or Charitable Uses
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §374, sub-§5,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 516, §1 and affected by c. 614, §9, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §387, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 414, Pt. B, §18 and affected c. 614, §9, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §387, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Appropriation.     The money in the State Lottery Fund may be appropriated only for the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares and the expenses of the division in its operation of the lottery, and the remainder is evenly divided among the following:
 
A.  The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund pursuant to Title 12, section 10302;
 
B.  The Maine Technology Capacity Fund established pursuant to Title 5, section 15303-A;
 
C.  Jobs for Maine's Graduates established by Title 20-A, chapter 226;
 
D.  The Maine Development Foundation as created by Title 10, chapter 107;
 
E.  The University of Maine System Scholarship Fund pursuant to Title 20-A, section 10909;
 
F.  The Maine Community College System, to be applied by the board of trustees to fund its scholarships program pursuant to Title 20-A, section 12716, subsection 1;
 
G.  The search and rescue operations as described by Title 12, section 10105;
 
H.  The Land for Maine’s Future Fund as created by Title 5, section 6203;
 
I.  The ATV Recreational Management Fund established by Title 12, section 1893;
 
J.  The Housing Opportunities for Maine Program established by Title 30-A, section 4852;
 
K.  The Agricultural Fair Support Fund established in Title 7, section 91;
 
L.  The fund to supplement harness racing purses established in Title 8, section 298;
 
M.  The fish hatchery maintenance fund established by Title 12, section 10252;
 
N.  The Scholarships for Maine Fund as administered by the Finance Authority of Maine pursuant to Title 20-A, section 11651;
 
O.  Maine Public Broadcasting Network;
 
P.  Maine & Company;
 
Q.  Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community;
 
R.  The Maine Economic Development Venture Capital Revolving Investment Program Fund as administered by the Finance Authority of Maine as provided by Title 10, section 1026-N;
 
S.  Pine Tree Legal Assistance or a successor organization; and
 
T.  Maine Legal Services for the Elderly or a successor organization.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the law that determines how revenues from the Maine State Lottery are appropriated. This bill provides that after prize payments and covering the cost of administrative expenses, revenues from the lottery will be divided equally among 20 state funds, nonprofit organizations, charities and scholarships. The bill repeals the provision that creates a separate game for the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund but includes the fund among the list of those that will receive lottery revenue.