BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: SB
831
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
SB 831 Author: Committee on Governmental Organization
As Introduced: March 19, 2009
Hearing Date: April 28, 2009
Consultant: Chris Lindstrom
SUBJECT
California State Lottery: multistate lottery.
DESCRIPTION
SB 831 reinstates a provision of the California State
Lottery Act that was inadvertently chaptered-out by AB 1654
(Chapter 764, Statutes of 2008), a measure that is intended
to "modernize" the Lottery if the voters approve
Proposition 1C (which was placed on the ballot by SCA 12
(Resolution Chapter 143 of 2008) in May 2009.
Specifically, the bill would give a player up to one year
to claim prize money for a jackpot or grand prize won in a
multistate lottery game (Mega Millions).
EXISTING LAW
Existing law authorizes, pursuant to the California State
Lottery Act approved by the voters on November 6, 1984, the
operation of the California State Lottery.
Existing law gives a player the right to claim prize money
for 180 days after a lottery drawing.
Existing law provides that none of the provisions of the
Lottery Act may be changed, except by a bill that furthers
the purpose of the Lottery Act, and the bill is passed by a
2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and signed by the
SB 831 (G.O. Committee) continued
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Governor.
BACKGROUND
AB 1251 (Chapter 8, Statutes of 2008) modified the Lottery
Act to bring it into compliance with a Superior Court writ
that required the Lottery Commission to align the
redemption period in state law with the redemption period
for Mega Millions super jackpot awards. AB 1251 did so,
allowing California winners of Mega Millions super jackpots
to redeem grand prize winning tickets within one year,
rather than 180 days as previously required by law.
However, when the Legislature passed and the Governor
signed AB 1654 into law last year, the legislative remedy
for the Mega Millions redemption period was inadvertently
left out of the bill. SB 831 will correct that oversight
and bring state law into compliance with judicial order.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 1164 (Tran), 2009-2010 Legislative Session . Makes
numerous technical changes in the California codes that
have been recommended by the Legislative Counsel's Office.
Pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
AB 1654 (Budget), Chapter 764, Statutes of 2008 . Makes a
number of technical and statutory changes to the Lottery
Act necessary to implement the 2008-09 Budget Act.
Inadvertently struck language allowing winning tickets for
a jackpot or grand prize won in a multistate lottery game
to be redeemed within one year.
SB 1084 (Budget), 2007-2008 Legislative Session . Identical
to AB 1654, Chapter 764, Statutes of 2008. Held on the
Assembly Floor.
AB 1251 (Tran), Chapter 8, Statutes of 2008 . Allows
winning tickets for a jackpot or grand prize won in a
multistate lottery game to be redeemed within one year.
SUPPORT : As of April 24, 2009:
California Lottery Commission (sponsor)
OPPOSE : None on file as of April 24, 2009.
SB 831 (G.O. Committee) continued
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FISCAL COMMITTEE : Senate Appropriations Committee
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