ASSEMBLY, No. 1149

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblyman COHEN

 

 

An Act concerning the commission paid to State Lottery sales agents and amending P.L.1970, c.13.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 7 of P.L.1970, c.13 (C:5:9-7) is amended to read as follows:

    7. The commission shall have the power, and it shall be its duty:

    a. After full and thorough study of the report and recommendations of the State Lottery Planning Commission established pursuant to Joint Resolution Number 11, approved November 20, 1969, and such other pertinent information as may be available, to promulgate such rules and regulations governing the establishment and operation of a State lottery as it deems necessary and desirable in order that the mandate of the people expressed in their approval of the amendment to Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2, of the Constitution in the general election of November, 1969, may be fully implemented, in order that such a lottery shall be initiated at the earliest feasible and practicable time, and in order that such lottery shall produce the maximum amount of net revenues for State institutions and State aid for education consonant with the dignity of the State and the general welfare of the people. Such rules and regulations may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

    (1) The type of lottery to be conducted.

    (2) The price, or prices, of tickets or shares in the lottery.

    (3) The number and sizes of the prizes on the winning tickets or shares.

    (4) The manner of selecting the winning tickets or shares.

    (5) The manner of payment of prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares, including, subject to the approval of the State Treasurer, provision for payment of prizes not to exceed $599.00 by agents licensed hereunder out of moneys received from sales of tickets or shares.

    (6) The frequency of the drawings or selections of winning tickets or shares, without limitation.

    (7) Without limit as to number, the type or types of locations at which tickets or shares may be sold.

    (8) The method to be used in selling tickets or shares.

    (9) The licensing of agents to sell tickets or shares, provided that no person under the age of 21 shall be licensed as an agent.

    (10) The manner and amount of compensation[, if any,]to be paid licensed sales agents necessary to provide for the adequate availability of tickets or shares to prospective buyers and for the convenience of the public, except that the amount of compensation shall be no less than six percent of an agent's lottery sales.

    (11) The apportionment of the total revenues accruing from the sale of lottery tickets or shares and from all other sources among (a) the payment of prizes to the holders of winning tickets or shares, (b) the payment of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the lottery, including the expenses of the division and the costs resulting from any contract or contracts entered into for promotional, advertising or operational services or for the purchase or lease of lottery equipment and materials, (c) for the repayment of the money appropriated to the State Lottery Fund pursuant to section 23 of this act, and (d) for transfer to the general fund for State institutions and State aid for education; provided, however, that no less than 30% of the total revenues accruing from the sale of lottery tickets or shares shall be dedicated to (d), above.

    (12) Such other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient and economical operation and administration of the lottery and for the convenience of the purchasers of tickets or shares and the holders of winning tickets or shares.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, no rule or regulation establishing a lottery game shall be considered an "administrative rule" or "rule" pursuant to P.L.1968, c. 410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

    b. To amend, repeal, or supplement any such rules and regulations from time to time as it deems necessary or desirable.

    c. To advise and make recommendations to the director regarding the operation and administration of the lottery.

    d. To report monthly to the Governor and the Legislature the total lottery revenues, prize disbursements and other expenses for the preceding month, and to make an annual report, which shall include a full and complete statement of lottery revenues, prize disbursements and other expenses, to the Governor and the Legislature, and including such recommendations for changes in this act as it deems necessary or desirable.

    e. To report immediately to the Governor and the Legislature any matters which shall require immediate changes in the laws of this State in order to prevent abuses and evasions of this act or rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the lottery.

    f. To carry on a continuous study and investigation of the lottery throughout the State (1) for the purpose of ascertaining any defects in this act or in the rules and regulations issued thereunder by reason whereof any abuses in the administration and operation of the lottery or any evasion of this act or the rules and regulations may arise or be practiced, (2) for the purpose of formulating recommendations for changes in this act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder to prevent such abuses and evasions, (3) to guard against the use of this act and the rules and regulations issued thereunder as a cloak for the carrying on of organized gambling and crime, and (4) to insure that said law and rules and regulations shall be in such form and be so administered as to serve the true purposes of this act.

    g. To make a continuous study and investigation of (1) the operation and the administration of similar laws which may be in effect in other states or countries, (2) any literature on the subject which from time to time may be published or available, (3) any Federal laws which may affect the operation of the lottery, and (4) the reaction of New Jersey citizens to existing and potential features of the lottery with a view to recommending or effecting changes that will tend to serve the purposes of this act.

(cf: P.L.1981, c.182, s.1)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill provides that the commission paid to a State Lottery sales agent shall be no less than six percent of the agent's lottery sales. Current law provides that the Lottery Commission shall have the power and duty to promulgate rules and regulations which may cover the manner and amount of compensation, if any, to be paid licensed sales agents necessary to provide for the adequate availability of tickets to the public. Since the establishment of the State Lottery 24 years ago, licensed lottery sales agents have received a five percent commission. The proposed minimum commission would increase lottery sales agents' incentive to continue to provide a valuable service. Net revenues from the State Lottery support State institutions and State aid for education.


 

Establishes minimum six percent commission for State Lottery sales agents.