New lottery-only proposal in Alabama House committee
An Alabama House committee will hold a public hearing Thursday on a new proposal for a state lottery.
The legislation was introduced Wednesday by Rep. Chip Brown, a Republican from Mobile County.
It would create the Alabama Education Lottery, which could offer intrastate and multi-state games. The net proceeds would fund college scholarships, workforce training, a student loan repayment program, periodic bonuses for retired education employees, agricultural education programs for students, and public and private programs to help problem gamblers.
A nine-member commission appointed by the governor and other officials would run the lottery.
The fiscal note with the bill says the lottery would raise an estimated $198 million to $285 million a year after prizes and expenses are paid.
The House Economic Development and Tourism Committee will hold a public hearing on the legislation at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the Alabama State House.
Twelve Republican representatives are co-sponsors of Brown’s bill. Their proposal comes one week after an Alabama Senate committee approved a bill for a lottery and five new Alabama casinos, a plan sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore. Albritton’s plan has not received consideration by the Senate so far.
Brown’s bill does not include casinos.
Both plans would require approval by voters if they make it through the Legislature. Time is short, with eight meeting days left in the session.
Alabama voters have not had their say on a lottery since rejecting a plan by Gov. Don Siegelman in 1999.