GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 223

Short Title:     2005 Education Lottery Referendum.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives B. Allen, Hunter (Primary Sponsors);  Bell, Cunningham, and Lucas.
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

February 15, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT authorizing a referendum for the establishment of an education lottery.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The question of whether the General Assembly shall enact an Education Lottery shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at an election on the question to be held at a statewide primary, general, or special election on a date to be determined by the General Assembly.

The net proceeds from the Education Lottery shall be used to enable all North Carolina children to have the education they deserve. The funds shall be used to establish a voluntary statewide prekindergarten program to prepare at‑risk four‑year‑olds for school in order to close the achievement gap that now exists. The net proceeds shall also be used to reduce class sizes in our public schools, to fund items necessary to accomplish those ends, and to provide for more one‑on‑one instruction to allow teachers to teach and children to learn so that more children will stay in school, graduate, and go on to college.

The funds from the Education Lottery shall supplement and not supplant other State funds appropriated for education.

The election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

"[ ] YES   [ ] NO

North Carolina should have an Education Lottery."

SECTION 2.  If the question is approved by the qualified voters of this State in the election held under Section 1 of this act, the reasonable additional costs to the State Board of Elections and the county boards of elections for conducting the election shall be considered expenses of any lottery enacted by the General Assembly, and the Education Lottery shall reimburse the State Board of Elections and county boards of elections for these costs from the proceeds of the lottery.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.