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2013 Florida Statutes
Chapter 24
STATE LOTTERIES
STATE LOTTERIES
CHAPTER 24
STATE LOTTERIES
24.101 Short title.
24.102 Purpose and intent.
24.103 Definitions.
24.104 Department; purpose.
24.105 Powers and duties of department.
24.1055 Prohibition against sale of lottery tickets to minors; posting of signs; penalties.
24.107 Advertising and promotion of lottery games.
24.108 Division of Security; duties; security report.
24.109 Administrative procedure.
24.110 Venue.
24.111 Vendors; disclosure and contract requirements.
24.112 Retailers of lottery tickets; authorization of vending machines to dispense lottery tickets.
24.113 Minority participation.
24.114 Bank deposits and control of lottery transactions.
24.115 Payment of prizes.
24.1153 Assignment of prizes payable in installments.
24.116 Unlawful purchase of lottery tickets; penalty.
24.117 Unlawful sale of lottery tickets; penalty.
24.118 Other prohibited acts; penalties.
24.119 Use of word “lottery” in corporate name.
24.120 Financial matters; Operating Trust Fund; interagency cooperation.
24.121 Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds for public education.
24.1211 Maturity of public school construction bonds issued pursuant to ch. 97-384.
24.1215 Duty to inform public of lottery’s significance to education.
24.122 Exemption from taxation; state preemption; inapplicability of other laws.
24.123 Annual audit of financial records and reports.
24.124 Responsibility for ticket accuracy; department, retailer, and vendor liability.
24.101 Short title.—This act may be cited as the “Florida Public Education Lottery Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 87-65.
24.102 Purpose and intent.—
(1) The purpose of this act is to implement s. 15, Art. X of the State Constitution in a manner that enables the people of the state to benefit from significant additional moneys for education and also enables the people of the state to play the best lottery games available.
(2) The intent of the Legislature is:
(a) That the net proceeds of lottery games conducted pursuant to this act be used to support improvements in public education and that such proceeds not be used as a substitute for existing resources for public education.
(b) That the lottery games be operated by a department of state government that functions as much as possible in the manner of an entrepreneurial business enterprise. The Legislature recognizes that the operation of a lottery is a unique activity for state government and that structures and procedures appropriate to the performance of other governmental functions are not necessarily appropriate to the operation of a state lottery.
(c) That the lottery games be operated by a self-supporting, revenue-producing department.
(d) That the department be accountable to the Legislature and the people of the state through a system of audits and reports and through compliance with financial disclosure, open meetings, and public records laws.
History.—s. 2, ch. 87-65; s. 5, ch. 91-45.
24.103 Definitions.—As used in this act:
(1) “Department” means the Department of the Lottery.
(2) “Secretary” means the secretary of the department.
(3) “Person” means any individual, firm, association, joint adventure, partnership, estate, trust, syndicate, fiduciary, corporation, or other group or combination and shall include any agency or political subdivision of the state.
(4) “Major procurement” means a procurement for a contract for the printing of tickets for use in any lottery game, consultation services for the startup of the lottery, any goods or services involving the official recording for lottery game play purposes of a player’s selections in any lottery game involving player selections, any goods or services involving the receiving of a player’s selection directly from a player in any lottery game involving player selections, any goods or services involving the drawing, determination, or generation of winners in any lottery game, the security report services provided for in this act, or any goods and services relating to marketing and promotion which exceed a value of $25,000.
(5) “Retailer” means a person who sells lottery tickets on behalf of the department pursuant to a contract.
(6) “Vendor” means a person who provides or proposes to provide goods or services to the department, but does not include an employee of the department, a retailer, or a state agency.
History.—s. 3, ch. 87-65; s. 1, ch. 89-208; s. 1, ch. 2001-89.
24.104 Department; purpose.—The purpose of the department is to operate the state lottery as authorized by s. 15, Art. X of the State Constitution so as to maximize revenues in a manner consonant with the dignity of the state and the welfare of its citizens.
History.—s. 4, ch. 87-65; s. 6, ch. 2000-158.
24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department shall:
(1) Have the authority to sue or be sued in the corporate name of the department and to adopt a corporate seal and symbol.
(2) Supervise and administer the operation of the lottery in accordance with the provisions of this act and rules adopted pursuant thereto.
(3) For purposes of any investigation or proceeding conducted by the department, have the power to administer oaths, require affidavits, take depositions, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence.
(4) Submit monthly and annual reports to the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives disclosing the total lottery revenues, prize disbursements, and other expenses of the department during the preceding month. The annual report shall additionally describe the organizational structure of the department, including its hierarchical structure, and shall identify the divisions and bureaus created by the secretary and summarize the departmental functions performed by each.
(5) Adopt by rule a system of internal audits.
(6) Maintain weekly or more frequent records of lottery transactions, including the distribution of tickets to retailers, revenues received, claims for prizes, prizes paid, and other financial transactions of the department.
(7) Make a continuing study of the lottery to ascertain any defects of this act or rules adopted thereunder which could result in abuses in the administration of the lottery; make a continuing study of the operation and the administration of similar laws in other states and of federal laws which may affect the lottery; and make a continuing study of the reaction of the public to existing and potential features of the lottery.
(8) Conduct such market research as is necessary or appropriate, which may include an analysis of the demographic characteristics of the players of each lottery game and an analysis of advertising, promotion, public relations, incentives, and other aspects of communications.
(9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation of the state lottery, including:
(a) The type of lottery games to be conducted, except that:
1. No name of an elected official shall appear on the ticket or play slip of any lottery game or on any prize or on any instrument used for the payment of prizes, unless such prize is in the form of a state warrant.
2. No coins or currency shall be dispensed from any electronic computer terminal or device used in any lottery game.
3. Other than as specifically provided in s. 24.112, no terminal or device may be used for any lottery game which may be operated solely by the player without the assistance of the retailer.
(b) The sales price of tickets.
(c) The number and sizes of prizes.
(d) The method of selecting winning tickets. However, if a lottery game involves a drawing, the drawing shall be public and witnessed by an accountant employed by an independent certified public accounting firm. The equipment used in the drawing shall be inspected before and after the drawing.
(e) The manner of payment of prizes to holders of winning tickets.
(f) The frequency of drawings or selections of winning tickets.
(g) The number and type of locations at which tickets may be purchased.
(h) The method to be used in selling tickets.
(i) The manner and amount of compensation of retailers.
(j) Such other matters necessary or desirable for the efficient or economical operation of the lottery or for the convenience of the public.
(10) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 286, have the authority to hold patents, copyrights, trademarks, and service marks and enforce its rights with respect thereto. The department shall notify the Department of State in writing whenever property rights by patent, copyright, or trademark are secured by the department.
(11) In the selection of games and method of selecting winning tickets, be sensitive to the impact of the lottery upon the pari-mutuel industry and, accordingly, the department may use for any game the theme of horseracing, dogracing, or jai alai and may allow a lottery game to be based upon a horserace, dograce, or jai alai activity so long as the outcome of such lottery game is determined entirely by chance.
(12)(a) Determine by rule information relating to the operation of the lottery which is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Such information includes trade secrets; security measures, systems, or procedures; security reports; information concerning bids or other contractual data, the disclosure of which would impair the efforts of the department to contract for goods or services on favorable terms; employee personnel information unrelated to compensation, duties, qualifications, or responsibilities; and information obtained by the Division of Security pursuant to its investigations which is otherwise confidential. To be deemed confidential, the information must be necessary to the security and integrity of the lottery. Confidential information may be released to other governmental entities as needed in connection with the performance of their duties. The receiving governmental entity shall retain the confidentiality of such information as provided for in this subsection.
(b) Maintain the confidentiality of the street address and the telephone number of a winner, in that such information is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, unless the winner consents to the release of such information or as provided for in s. 24.115(4) or s. 409.2577.
(c) Any information made confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) under this subsection shall be disclosed to the Auditor General, to the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or to the independent auditor selected under s. 24.123 upon such person’s request therefor. If the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives certifies that information made confidential under this subsection is necessary for effecting legislative changes, the requested information shall be disclosed to him or her, and he or she may disclose such information to members of the Legislature and legislative staff as necessary to effect such purpose.
(13) Have the authority to perform any of the functions of the Department of Management Services under chapter 255, chapter 273, chapter 281, chapter 283, or chapter 287, or any rules adopted under any such chapter, and may grant approvals provided for under any such chapter or rules. If the department finds, by rule, that compliance with any such chapter would impair or impede the effective or efficient operation of the lottery, the department may adopt rules providing alternative procurement procedures. Such alternative procedures shall be designed to allow the department to evaluate competing proposals and select the proposal that provides the greatest long-term benefit to the state with respect to the quality of the products or services, dependability and integrity of the vendor, dependability of the vendor’s products or services, security, competence, timeliness, and maximization of gross revenues and net proceeds over the life of the contract.
(14) Have the authority to acquire real property and make improvements thereon. The title to such property shall be vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. The board shall give the department preference in leasing state-owned lands under the board’s control and may not exercise any jurisdiction over lands purchased or leased by the department while such lands are actively used by the department. Actions of the department under this subsection are exempt from the time limitations and deadlines of chapter 253.
(15) Have the authority to charge fees to persons applying for contracts as vendors or retailers, which fees are reasonably calculated to cover the costs of investigations and other activities related to the processing of the application.
(16) Enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of such goods and services as are necessary for the operation and promotion of the state lottery, including assistance provided by any governmental agency.
(17) In accordance with the provisions of this act, enter into contracts with retailers so as to provide adequate and convenient availability of tickets to the public for each game.
(18) Have the authority to enter into agreements with other states for the operation and promotion of a multistate lottery if such agreements are in the best interest of the state lottery. The authority conferred by this subsection is not effective until 1 year after the first day of lottery ticket sales.
(19) Employ division directors and other staff as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; however:
(a) No person shall be employed by the department who has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony committed in the preceding 10 years, regardless of adjudication, unless the department determines that:
1. The person has been pardoned or his or her civil rights have been restored; or
2. Subsequent to such conviction or entry of plea the person has engaged in the kind of law-abiding commerce and good citizenship that would reflect well upon the integrity of the lottery.
(b) No officer or employee of the department having decisionmaking authority shall participate in any decision involving any vendor or retailer with whom the officer or employee has a financial interest. No such officer or employee may participate in any decision involving any vendor or retailer with whom the officer or employee has discussed employment opportunities without the approval of the secretary or, if such officer is the secretary, without the approval of the Governor. Any officer or employee of the department shall notify the secretary of any such discussion or, if such officer is the secretary, he or she shall notify the Governor. A violation of this paragraph is punishable in accordance with s. 112.317.
(c) No officer or employee of the department who leaves the employ of the department shall represent any vendor or retailer before the department regarding any specific matter in which the officer or employee was involved while employed by the department, for a period of 1 year following cessation of employment with the department. A violation of this paragraph is punishable in accordance with s. 112.317.
(d) The department shall establish and maintain a personnel program for its employees, including a personnel classification and pay plan which may provide any or all of the benefits provided in the Senior Management Service or Selected Exempt Service. Each officer or employee of the department shall be a member of the Florida Retirement System. The retirement class of each officer or employee shall be the same as other persons performing comparable functions for other agencies. Employees of the department shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and shall be subject to suspension, dismissal, reduction in pay, demotion, transfer, or other personnel action at the discretion of the secretary. Such personnel actions are exempt from the provisions of chapter 120. All employees of the department are exempt from the Career Service System provided in chapter 110 and, notwithstanding the provisions of s. 110.205(5), are not included in either the Senior Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service. However, all employees of the department are subject to all standards of conduct adopted by rule for career service and senior management employees pursuant to chapter 110. In the event of a conflict between standards of conduct applicable to employees of the Department of the Lottery the more restrictive standard shall apply. Interpretations as to the more restrictive standard may be provided by the Commission on Ethics upon request of an advisory opinion pursuant to s. 112.322(3)(a), for purposes of this subsection the opinion shall be considered final action.
(20) Adopt by rule a code of ethics for officers and employees of the department which supplements the standards of conduct for public officers and employees imposed by law.
History.—s. 6, ch. 87-65; s. 1, ch. 88-374; s. 2, ch. 89-208; s. 4, ch. 90-360; s. 138, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 14, ch. 93-260; s. 13, ch. 94-277; s. 1, ch. 95-120; s. 1322, ch. 95-147; s. 4, ch. 96-341; s. 7, ch. 96-406; s. 1, ch. 98-230; s. 7, ch. 2000-158; s. 2, ch. 2001-89; s. 23, ch. 2001-266; s. 73, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2007-128; s. 1, ch. 2012-130.
24.1055 Prohibition against sale of lottery tickets to minors; posting of signs; penalties.—
(1) No person who is less than 18 years of age may purchase a lottery ticket by means of a machine or otherwise.
(2) Any retailer that sells lottery tickets by means of a player activated machine shall post a clear and conspicuous sign on such machine, which states the following:
THE SALE OF LOTTERY TICKETS TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS AGAINST FLORIDA LAW (SECTION 24.105, FLORIDA STATUTES). PROOF OF AGE IS REQUIRED FOR PURCHASE.
(3) Any person, including any vendor, who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 5, ch. 96-341.
24.107 Advertising and promotion of lottery games.—
(1) The Legislature recognizes the need for extensive and effective advertising and promotion of lottery games. It is the intent of the Legislature that such advertising and promotion be consistent with the dignity and integrity of the state. In advertising the value of a prize that will be paid over a period of years, the department may refer to the sum of all prize payments over the period.
(2) The department may act as a retailer and may conduct promotions which involve the dispensing of lottery tickets free of charge.
History.—s. 7, ch. 87-65.
24.108 Division of Security; duties; security report.—
(1) The secretary shall appoint a director of the Division of Security who is qualified by training and experience in law enforcement or security to supervise, direct, coordinate, and administer all activities of the division.
(2) The director and all investigators employed by the division shall meet the requirements for employment and appointment provided by s. 943.13 and shall satisfy the requirements for certification established by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission pursuant to chapter 943. The director and such investigators shall be designated law enforcement officers and shall have the power to investigate and arrest for any alleged violation of this act or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, or any law of this state. Such law enforcement officers may enter upon any premises in which lottery tickets are sold, manufactured, printed, or stored within the state for the performance of their lawful duties and may take with them any necessary equipment, and such entry shall not constitute a trespass. In any instance in which there is reason to believe that a violation has occurred, such officers have the authority, without warrant, to search and inspect any premises where the violation is alleged to have occurred or is occurring. Any such officer may, consistent with the United States and Florida Constitutions, seize or take possession of any papers, records, tickets, currency, or other items related to any alleged violation.
(3) The Department of Law Enforcement shall, at the request of the Division of Security, perform full criminal background investigations on all employees of the Department of the Lottery at the level of secretary, division director, or bureau chief and at any level within the Division of Security, including applicants for employment. The Department of the Lottery shall reimburse the Department of Law Enforcement for the actual costs of such investigations.
(4) The division shall conduct such investigations of vendors, retailers, and employees of the department, including applicants for contract or employment, as are necessary to ensure the security and integrity of the operation of the state lottery. The department may require persons subject to such investigations to provide such information, including fingerprints, as is needed by the Department of Law Enforcement for processing or as is otherwise necessary to facilitate access to state and federal criminal history information.
(5) The Department of Law Enforcement shall provide assistance in obtaining criminal history information relevant to investigations required for honest, secure, and exemplary lottery operations, and such other assistance as may be requested by the secretary and agreed to by the executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Any other state agency, including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Department of Revenue, shall, upon request, provide the Department of the Lottery with any information relevant to any investigation conducted pursuant to this act. The Department of the Lottery shall maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information it receives from any other agency. The Department of the Lottery shall reimburse any agency for the actual cost of providing any assistance pursuant to this subsection.
(6) The division shall monitor ticket validation and lottery drawings.
(7)(a) After the first full year of sales of tickets to the public, or sooner if the secretary deems necessary, the department shall engage an independent firm experienced in security procedures, including, but not limited to, computer security and systems security, to conduct a comprehensive study and evaluation of all aspects of security in the operation of the department.
(b) The portion of the security report containing the overall evaluation of the department in terms of each aspect of security shall be presented to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The portion of the security report containing specific recommendations shall be confidential and shall be presented only to the secretary, the Governor, and the Auditor General; however, upon certification that such information is necessary for the purpose of effecting legislative changes, such information shall be disclosed to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who may disclose such information to members of the Legislature and legislative staff as necessary to effect such purpose. However, any person who receives a copy of such information or other information which is confidential pursuant to this act or rule of the department shall maintain its confidentiality. The confidential portion of the report is exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
(c) Thereafter, similar studies of security shall be conducted as the department deems appropriate but at least once every 2 years.
History.—s. 8, ch. 87-65; s. 2, ch. 88-374; s. 5, ch. 90-360; s. 4, ch. 94-218; s. 3, ch. 95-120; s. 8, ch. 96-406; s. 3, ch. 2001-89.
24.109 Administrative procedure.—
(1) The department may at any time adopt emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54. The Legislature finds that such emergency rulemaking power is necessary for the preservation of the rights and welfare of the people in order to provide additional funds to benefit the public. The Legislature further finds that the unique nature of state lottery operations requires, from time to time, that the department respond as quickly as is practicable to changes in the marketplace. Therefore, in adopting such emergency rules, the department need not make the findings required by s. 120.54(4)(a). Emergency rules adopted under this section are exempt from s. 120.54(4)(c) and shall remain in effect until replaced by other emergency rules or by rules adopted under the nonemergency rulemaking procedures of the Administrative Procedure Act.
(2) The provisions of s. 120.57(3) apply to the department’s contracting process, except that:
(a) A formal written protest of any decision, intended decision, or other action subject to protest shall be filed within 72 hours after receipt of notice of the decision, intended decision, or other action.
(b) In a competitive procurement protest, including the rejection of all bids, proposals, or replies, the administrative law judge shall not substitute his or her procurement decision for the agency’s procurement decision but shall review the intended agency action only to determine if the agency action is illegal, arbitrary, dishonest, or fraudulent.
(c) As an alternative to any provision in s. 120.57(3)(c), the department may proceed with the bid solicitation or contract award process when the secretary of the department sets forth in writing particular facts and circumstances which require the continuance of the bid solicitation process or the contract award process in order to avoid a substantial loss of funding to the state or to avoid substantial disruption of the timetable for any scheduled lottery game.
History.—s. 9, ch. 87-65; s. 36, ch. 90-302; s. 4, ch. 96-410; s. 1, ch. 2006-278.
24.110 Venue.—The venue for all civil or administrative actions against the department shall be in Leon County.
History.—s. 10, ch. 87-65.
24.111 Vendors; disclosure and contract requirements.—
(1) The department may enter into contracts for the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of such goods or services as are necessary for effectuating the purposes of this act. The department may not contract with any person or entity for the total operation and administration of the state lottery established by this act but may make procurements which integrate functions such as lottery game design, supply of goods and services, and advertising. In all procurement decisions, the department shall take into account the particularly sensitive nature of the state lottery and shall consider the competence, quality of product, experience, and timely performance of the vendors in order to promote and ensure security, honesty, fairness, and integrity in the operation and administration of the lottery and the objective of raising net revenues for the benefit of the public purpose described in this act.
(2) The department shall investigate the financial responsibility, security, and integrity of each vendor with which it intends to negotiate a contract for major procurement. Such investigation may include an investigation of the financial responsibility, security, and integrity of any or all persons whose names and addresses are required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (a). Any person who submits a bid, proposal, or offer as part of a major procurement must, at the time of submitting such bid, proposal, or offer, provide the following:
(a) A disclosure of the vendor’s name and address and, as applicable, the name and address and any additional disclosures necessary for an investigation of the financial responsibility, security, and integrity of the following:
1. If the vendor is a corporation, the officers, directors, and each stockholder in such corporation; except that, in the case of owners of equity securities of a publicly traded corporation, only the names and addresses of those known to the corporation to own beneficially 5 percent or more of such securities need be disclosed.
2. If the vendor is a trust, the trustee and all persons entitled to receive income or benefit from the trust.
3. If the vendor is an association, the members, officers, and directors.
4. If the vendor is a partnership or joint venture, all of the general partners, limited partners, or joint venturers.
If the vendor subcontracts any substantial portion of the work to be performed to a subcontractor, the vendor shall disclose all of the information required by this paragraph for the subcontractor as if the subcontractor were itself a vendor.
(b) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor does business and of the nature of that business for each such state or jurisdiction.
(c) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor has contracts to supply gaming goods or services, including, but not limited to, lottery goods and services, and of the nature of the goods or services involved for each such state or jurisdiction.
(d) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in which the vendor has applied for, has sought renewal of, has received, has been denied, has pending, or has had revoked a gaming license or contract of any kind and of the disposition of such in each such state or jurisdiction. If any gaming license or contract has been revoked or has not been renewed or any gaming license or contract application has been either denied or is pending and has remained pending for more than 6 months, all of the facts and circumstances underlying this failure to receive such a license must be disclosed.
(e) A disclosure of the details of any conviction or judgment of a state or federal court of the vendor of any felony or any other criminal offense other than a traffic violation.
(f) A disclosure of the details of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or any pending litigation of the vendor.
(g) Such additional disclosures and information as the department may determine to be appropriate for the procurement involved.
(h) The department shall lease all vending machines that dispense online lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, or both online and instant lottery tickets.
(i) The department will require a performance bond for the duration of the contract.
The department shall not contract with any vendor who fails to make the disclosures required by this subsection, and any contract with a vendor who has failed to make the required disclosures shall be unenforceable. Any contract with any vendor who does not comply with such requirements for periodically updating such disclosures during the tenure of such contract as may be specified in such contract may be terminated by the department. This subsection shall be construed broadly and liberally to achieve the ends of full disclosure of all information necessary to allow for a full and complete evaluation by the department of the competence, integrity, background, and character of vendors for major procurements.
(3) The department may require disclosure of the information required by subsection (2) from any vendor if the department finds that such disclosure is necessary to protect the dignity and integrity of the lottery and in the best interests of the state.
(4) No contract for a major procurement with any vendor shall be entered into if that vendor, or any of the vendor’s officers, directors, trustees, partners, or joint venturers whose names and addresses are required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (2)(a), has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony committed in the preceding 10 years, regardless of adjudication, unless the department determines that:
(a) The vendor or such individual has been pardoned or the vendor’s or such individual’s civil rights have been restored;
(b) Subsequent to such conviction or entry of plea the vendor or such individual has engaged in the kind of law-abiding commerce and good citizenship that would reflect well upon the integrity of the lottery; or
(c) If the vendor is not an individual, such vendor has terminated its relationship with the individual whose actions directly contributed to the vendor’s conviction or entry of plea.
(5) Each vendor in a major procurement in excess of $25,000, and any other vendor if the department deems it necessary to protect the state’s financial interest, shall, at the time of executing the contract with the department, post an appropriate bond with the department in an amount determined by the department to be adequate to protect the state’s interests, but not higher than the full amount estimated to be paid annually to the vendor under the contract. In lieu of the bond, a vendor may, to assure the faithful performance of its obligations, file with the department an irrevocable letter of credit acceptable to the department in an amount determined by the department to be adequate to protect the state’s interests or deposit and maintain with the Chief Financial Officer securities that are interest bearing or accruing and that, with the exception of those specified in paragraphs (a) and (b), are rated in one of the four highest classifications by an established nationally recognized investment rating service. Securities eligible under this subsection shall be limited to:
(a) Certificates of deposit issued by solvent banks or savings associations organized and existing under the laws of this state or under the laws of the United States and having their principal place of business in this state.
(b) United States bonds, notes, and bills for which the full faith and credit of the government of the United States is pledged for the payment of principal and interest.
(c) General obligation bonds and notes of any political subdivision of the state.
(d) Corporate bonds of any corporation that is not an affiliate or subsidiary of the depositor.
Such securities shall be held in trust and shall have at all times a market value at least equal to an amount determined by the department to be adequate to protect the state’s interests, which amount shall not be set higher than the full amount estimated to be paid annually to the vendor under contract.
(6) Every contract in excess of $25,000 entered into by the department pursuant to this section shall contain a provision for payment of liquidated damages to the department for any breach of contract by the vendor. The department may require a liquidated damages provision in any contract if the department deems it necessary to protect the state’s financial interest.
(7) Each vendor shall be qualified to do business in this state and shall file appropriate tax returns as provided by the laws of this state, and all contracts shall be governed by the laws of this state.
History.—s. 11, ch. 87-65; s. 3, ch. 88-374; s. 3, ch. 89-208; s. 6, ch. 96-341; s. 2, ch. 98-230; s. 74, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2012-130.
24.112 Retailers of lottery tickets; authorization of vending machines to dispense lottery tickets.—
(1) The department shall promulgate rules specifying the terms and conditions for contracting with retailers who will best serve the public interest and promote the sale of lottery tickets.
(2) In the selection of retailers, the department shall consider factors such as financial responsibility, integrity, reputation, accessibility of the place of business or activity to the public, security of the premises, the sufficiency of existing retailers to serve the public convenience, and the projected volume of the sales for the lottery game involved. In the consideration of these factors, the department may require the information it deems necessary of any person applying for authority to act as a retailer. However, the department may not establish a limitation upon the number of retailers and shall make every effort to allow small business participation as retailers. It is the intent of the Legislature that retailer selections be based on business considerations and the public convenience and that retailers be selected without regard to political affiliation.
(3) The department shall not contract with any person as a retailer who:
(a) Is less than 18 years of age.
(b) Is engaged exclusively in the business of selling lottery tickets; however, this paragraph shall not preclude the department from selling lottery tickets.
(c) Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony committed in the preceding 10 years, regardless of adjudication, unless the department determines that:
1. The person has been pardoned or the person’s civil rights have been restored;
2. Subsequent to such conviction or entry of plea the person has engaged in the kind of law-abiding commerce and good citizenship that would reflect well upon the integrity of the lottery; or
3. If the person is a firm, association, partnership, trust, corporation, or other entity, the person has terminated its relationship with the individual whose actions directly contributed to the person’s conviction or entry of plea.
(4) The department shall issue a certificate of authority to each person with whom it contracts as a retailer for purposes of display pursuant to subsection (6). The issuance of the certificate shall not confer upon the retailer any right apart from that specifically granted in the contract. The authority to act as a retailer shall not be assignable or transferable.
(5) Any contract executed by the department pursuant to this section shall specify the reasons for any suspension or termination of the contract by the department, including, but not limited to:
(a) Commission of a violation of this act or rule adopted pursuant thereto.
(b) Failure to accurately account for lottery tickets, revenues, or prizes as required by the department.
(c) Commission of any fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
(d) Insufficient sale of tickets.
(e) Conduct prejudicial to public confidence in the lottery.
(f) Any material change in any matter considered by the department in executing the contract with the retailer.
(6) Every retailer shall post and keep conspicuously displayed in a location on the premises accessible to the public its certificate of authority and, with respect to each game, a statement supplied by the department of the estimated odds of winning some prize for the game.
(7) No contract with a retailer shall authorize the sale of lottery tickets at more than one location, and a retailer may sell lottery tickets only at the location stated on the certificate of authority.
(8) With respect to any retailer whose rental payments for premises are contractually computed, in whole or in part, on the basis of a percentage of retail sales, and where such computation of retail sales is not explicitly defined to include sales of tickets in a state-operated lottery, the compensation received by the retailer from the department shall be deemed to be the amount of the retail sale for the purposes of such contractual compensation.
(9)(a) The department may require every retailer to post an appropriate bond as determined by the department, using an insurance company acceptable to the department, in an amount not to exceed twice the average lottery ticket sales of the retailer for the period within which the retailer is required to remit lottery funds to the department. For the first 90 days of sales of a new retailer, the amount of the bond may not exceed twice the average estimated lottery ticket sales for the period within which the retailer is required to remit lottery funds to the department. This paragraph shall not apply to lottery tickets which are prepaid by the retailer.
(b) In lieu of such bond, the department may purchase blanket bonds covering all or selected retailers or may allow a retailer to deposit and maintain with the Chief Financial Officer securities that are interest bearing or accruing and that, with the exception of those specified in subparagraphs 1. and 2., are rated in one of the four highest classifications by an established nationally recognized investment rating service. Securities eligible under this paragraph shall be limited to:
1. Certificates of deposit issued by solvent banks or savings associations organized and existing under the laws of this state or under the laws of the United States and having their principal place of business in this state.
2. United States bonds, notes, and bills for which the full faith and credit of the government of the United States is pledged for the payment of principal and interest.
3. General obligation bonds and notes of any political subdivision of the state.
4. Corporate bonds of any corporation that is not an affiliate or subsidiary of the depositor.
Such securities shall be held in trust and shall have at all times a market value at least equal to an amount required by the department.
(10) Every contract entered into by the department pursuant to this section shall contain a provision for payment of liquidated damages to the department for any breach of contract by the retailer.
(11) The department shall establish procedures by which each retailer shall account for all tickets sold by the retailer and account for all funds received by the retailer from such sales. The contract with each retailer shall include provisions relating to the sale of tickets, payment of moneys to the department, reports, service charges, and interest and penalties, if necessary, as the department shall deem appropriate.
(12) No payment by a retailer to the department for tickets shall be in cash. All such payments shall be in the form of a check, bank draft, electronic fund transfer, or other financial instrument authorized by the secretary.
(13) Each retailer shall provide accessibility for disabled persons on habitable grade levels. This subsection does not apply to a retail location which has an entrance door threshold more than 12 inches above ground level. As used herein and for purposes of this subsection only, the term “accessibility for disabled persons on habitable grade levels” means that retailers shall provide ramps, platforms, aisles and pathway widths, turnaround areas, and parking spaces to the extent these are required for the retailer’s premises by the particular jurisdiction where the retailer is located. Accessibility shall be required to only one point of sale of lottery tickets for each lottery retailer location. The requirements of this subsection shall be deemed to have been met if, in lieu of the foregoing, disabled persons can purchase tickets from the retail location by means of a drive-up window, provided the hours of access at the drive-up window are not less than those provided at any other entrance at that lottery retailer location. Inspections for compliance with this subsection shall be performed by those enforcement authorities responsible for enforcement pursuant to s. 553.80 in accordance with procedures established by those authorities. Those enforcement authorities shall provide to the Department of the Lottery a certification of noncompliance for any lottery retailer not meeting such requirements.
(14) The secretary may, after filing with the Department of State his or her manual signature certified by the secretary under oath, execute or cause to be executed contracts between the department and retailers by means of engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other facsimile signature.
(15) A vending machine may be used to dispense online lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, or both online and instant lottery tickets.
(a) The vending machine must:
1. Dispense a lottery ticket after a purchaser inserts a coin or currency in the machine.
2. Be capable of being electronically deactivated for a period of 5 minutes or more.
3. Be designed to prevent its use for any purpose other than dispensing a lottery ticket.
(b) In order to be authorized to use a vending machine to dispense lottery tickets, a retailer must:
1. Locate the vending machine in the retailer’s direct line of sight to ensure that purchases are only made by persons at least 18 years of age.
2. Ensure that at least one employee is on duty when the vending machine is available for use. However, if the retailer has previously violated s. 24.1055, at least two employees must be on duty when the vending machine is available for use.
(c) A vending machine that dispenses a lottery ticket may dispense change to a purchaser but may not be used to redeem any type of winning lottery ticket.
(d) The vending machine, or any machine or device linked to the vending machine, may not include or make use of video reels or mechanical reels or other video depictions of slot machine or casino game themes or titles for game play. This does not preclude the use of casino game themes or titles on such tickets or signage or advertising displays on the machines.
History.—s. 12, ch. 87-65; ss. 2, 3, ch. 88-8; ss. 4, 9, ch. 88-374; s. 6, ch. 91-45; s. 90, ch. 95-147; s. 75, ch. 2003-261; s. 3, ch. 2012-130.
24.113 Minority participation.—
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department encourage participation by minority business enterprises as defined in s. 288.703. Accordingly, 15 percent of the retailers shall be minority business enterprises as defined in s. 288.703(3); however, no more than 35 percent of such retailers shall be owned by the same type of minority person, as defined in s. 288.703(4). The department is encouraged to meet the minority business enterprise procurement goals set forth in s. 287.09451 in the procurement of commodities, contractual services, construction, and architectural and engineering services. This section shall not preclude or prohibit a minority person from competing for any other retailing or vending agreement awarded by the department.
(2) The department is directed to undertake training programs and other educational activities to enable minority persons to compete for such contracts on an equal basis.
History.—s. 13, ch. 87-65; s. 7, ch. 91-45; s. 2, ch. 91-162; s. 3, ch. 94-322; s. 10, ch. 2001-60; s. 2, ch. 2012-5.
24.114 Bank deposits and control of lottery transactions.—
(1) All moneys received by each retailer from the operation of the state lottery, including, but not limited to, all ticket sales, interest, gifts, and donations, less the amount retained as compensation for the sale of the tickets and the amount paid out as prizes, shall be remitted to the department or deposited in a qualified public depository, as defined in s. 280.02, as directed by the department. The department shall have the responsibility for all administrative functions related to the receipt of funds. The department may also require each retailer to file with the department reports of the retailer’s receipts and transactions in the sale of lottery tickets in such form and containing such information as the department may require. The department may require any person, including a qualified public depository, to perform any function, activity, or service in connection with the operation of the lottery as it may deem advisable pursuant to this act and rules of the department, and such functions, activities, or services shall constitute lawful functions, activities, and services of such person.
(2) The department may require retailers to establish separate electronic funds transfer accounts for the purpose of receiving moneys from ticket sales, making payments to the department, and receiving payments from the department.
(3) Each retailer is liable to the department for any and all tickets accepted or generated by any employee or representative of that retailer, and the tickets shall be deemed to have been purchased by the retailer unless returned to the department within the time and in the manner prescribed by the department. All moneys received by retailers from the sale of lottery tickets, less the amount retained as compensation for the sale of tickets and the amount paid out as prizes by the retailer, shall be held in trust prior to delivery to the department or electronic transfer to the Operating Trust Fund.
History.—s. 14, ch. 87-65; s. 10, ch. 2006-79.
24.115 Payment of prizes.—
(1) The department shall promulgate rules to establish a system of verifying the validity of tickets claimed to win prizes and to effect payment of such prizes; however:
(a) The right of any person to a prize, other than a prize that is payable in installments over time, is not assignable. However, any prize, to the extent that it has not been assigned or encumbered pursuant to s. 24.1153, may be paid to the estate of a deceased prize winner or to a person designated pursuant to an appropriate court order. A prize that is payable in installments over time is assignable, but only pursuant to an appropriate court order as provided in s. 24.1153.
(b) No prize shall be paid to any person under the age of 18 years unless the winning ticket was lawfully purchased and made a gift to the minor. In such case, the department shall direct payment to an adult member of the minor’s family or the legal guardian of the minor as custodian for the minor. The person named as custodian shall have the same powers and duties as prescribed for a custodian pursuant to chapter 710, the Florida Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
(c) No prize may be paid arising from claimed tickets that are stolen, counterfeit, altered, fraudulent, unissued, produced or issued in error, unreadable, not received or not recorded by the department by applicable deadlines, lacking in captions that confirm and agree with the lottery play symbols as appropriate to the lottery game involved, or not in compliance with such additional specific rules and public or confidential validation and security tests of the department appropriate to the particular lottery game involved.
(d) No particular prize in any lottery game may be paid more than once, and in the event of a binding determination that more than one claimant is entitled to a particular prize, the sole remedy of such claimants is the award to each of them of an equal share in the prize.
(e) For the convenience of the public, retailers may be authorized to pay winners amounts less than $600 after performing validation procedures on their premises appropriate to the lottery game involved.
(f) Holders of tickets shall have the right to claim prizes for 180 days after the drawing or the end of the lottery game or play in which the prize was won; except that with respect to any game in which the player may determine instantly if he or she has won or lost, such right shall exist for 60 days after the end of the lottery game. If a valid claim is not made for a prize within the applicable period, the prize shall constitute an unclaimed prize for purposes of subsection (2).
(g) No prize shall be paid upon a ticket purchased or sold in violation of this act or to any person who is prohibited from purchasing a lottery ticket pursuant to this act. Any such prize shall constitute an unclaimed prize for purposes of subsection (2).
(2)(a) Eighty percent of all unclaimed prize money shall be deposited in the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund consistent with the provisions of s. 24.121(2). Subject to appropriations provided in the General Appropriations Act, these funds may be used to match private contributions received under the postsecondary matching grant programs established in ss. 1011.32, 1011.85, 1011.94, and 1013.79.
(b) The remaining 20 percent of unclaimed prize money shall be added to the pool from which future prizes are to be awarded or used for special prize promotions.
(3) The department shall be discharged of all liability upon payment of a prize.
(4) It is the responsibility of the appropriate state agency and of the judicial branch to identify to the department, in the form and format prescribed by the department, persons owing an outstanding debt to any state agency or owing child support collected through a court, including spousal support or alimony for the spouse or former spouse of the obligor if the child support obligation is being enforced by the Department of Revenue. Prior to the payment of a prize of $600 or more to any claimant having such an outstanding obligation, the department shall transmit the amount of the debt to the agency claiming the debt and shall authorize payment of the balance to the prize winner after deduction of the debt. If a prize winner owes multiple debts subject to offset under this subsection and the prize is insufficient to cover all such debts, the amount of the prize shall be transmitted first to the agency claiming that past due child support is owed. If a balance of lottery prize remains after payment of past due child support, the remaining lottery prize amount shall be transmitted to other agencies claiming debts owed to the state, pro rata, based upon the ratio of the individual debt to the remaining debt owed to the state.
History.—s. 15, ch. 87-65; s. 1, ch. 88-8; s. 91, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 96-310; s. 7, ch. 96-341; s. 2, ch. 99-184; s. 1, ch. 2001-158; s. 1, ch. 2005-84.
24.1153 Assignment of prizes payable in installments.—
(1) The right of any person to receive payments under a prize that is paid in installments over time by the department may be voluntarily assigned, in whole or in part, if the assignment is made to a person or entity designated pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction located in the judicial district where the assigning prize winner resides or where the headquarters of the department is located. A court may issue an order approving a voluntary assignment and directing the department to make prize payments in whole or in part to the designated assignee, if the court finds that all of the following conditions have been met:
(a) The assignment is in writing, is executed by the assignor, and is, by its terms, subject to the laws of this state.
(b) The purchase price being paid for the payments being assigned represents a present value of the payments being assigned, discounted at an annual rate that does not exceed the state’s usury limit for loans.
(c) The assignor provides a sworn affidavit attesting that he or she:
1. Is of sound mind, is in full command of his or her faculties, and is not acting under duress;
2. Has been advised regarding the assignment by his or her own independent legal counsel, who is unrelated to and is not being compensated by the assignee or any of the assignee’s affiliates, and has received independent financial or tax advice concerning the effects of the assignment from a lawyer or other professional who is unrelated to and is not being compensated by the assignee or any of the assignee’s affiliates;
3. Understands that he or she will not receive the prize payments or portions thereof for the years assigned;
4. Understands and agrees that with regard to the assigned payments the department and its officials and employees will have no further liability or responsibility to make the assigned payments to him or her;
5. Has been provided with a one-page written disclosure statement setting forth, in bold type of not less than 14 points, the payments being assigned, by amounts and payment dates; the purchase price being paid; the rate of discount to present value, assuming daily compounding and funding on the contract date; and the amount, if any, of any origination or closing fees that will be charged to him or her; and
6. Was advised in writing, at the time he or she signed the assignment contract, that he or she had the right to cancel the contract, without any further obligation, within 3 business days following the date on which the contract was signed.
(d) Written notice of the proposed assignment and any court hearing concerning the proposed assignment is provided to the department’s counsel at least 10 days prior to any court hearing. The department is not required to appear in or be named as a party to any such action seeking judicial confirmation of an assignment under this section, but may intervene as of right in any such proceeding.
(2) A certified copy of a court order approving a voluntary assignment must be provided to the department no later than 14 days before the date on which the payment is to be made.
(3) In accordance with the provisions of s. 24.115(4), a voluntary assignment may not include or cover payments or portions of payments that are subject to offset on account of a defaulted or delinquent child support obligation or on account of a debt owed to a state agency. Each court order issued under subsection (1) shall provide that any delinquent child support obligations of the assigning prize winner and any debts owed to a state agency by the assigning prize winner, as of the date of the court order, shall be offset by the department first against remaining payments or portions thereof due the prize winner and then against payments due the assignee.
(4) The department, and its respective officials and employees, shall be discharged of all liability upon payment of an assigned prize under this section.
(5) The department may establish a reasonable fee to defray any administrative expenses associated with assignments made under this section, including the cost to the department of any processing fee that may be imposed by a private annuity provider. The fee amount shall reflect the direct and indirect costs associated with processing such assignments.
(6) If at any time the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction issues a determination letter, revenue ruling, other public ruling of the Internal Revenue Service, or published decision to any state lottery or prize winner of any state lottery declaring that the voluntary assignment of prizes will affect the federal income tax treatment of prize winners who do not assign their prizes, the secretary of the department shall immediately file a copy of that letter, ruling, or published decision with the Secretary of State and the Office of the State Courts Administrator. A court may not issue an order authorizing a voluntary assignment under this section after the date any such ruling, letter, or published decision is filed.
History.—s. 1, ch. 99-184.
24.116 Unlawful purchase of lottery tickets; penalty.—
(1) No person who is less than 18 years of age may purchase a lottery ticket; however, this shall not prohibit the purchase of a lottery ticket for the purpose of making a gift to a minor.
(2) No officer or employee of the department or any relative living in the same household with such officer or employee may purchase a lottery ticket.
(3) No officer or employee of any vendor under contract with the department for a major procurement, relative living in the same household with such officer or employee, or immediate supervisor of such officer or employee may purchase a lottery ticket if the officer or employee is involved in the direct provision of goods or services to the department or has access to information made confidential by the department.
(4) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 16, ch. 87-65; s. 5, ch. 88-374.
24.117 Unlawful sale of lottery tickets; penalty.—Any person who knowingly:
(1) Sells a state lottery ticket when not authorized by the department or this act to engage in such sale;
(2) Sells a state lottery ticket to a minor; or
(3) Sells a state lottery ticket at any price other than that established by the department;
is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 17, ch. 87-65.
24.118 Other prohibited acts; penalties.—
(1) UNLAWFUL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT.—Any retailer who extends credit or lends money to a person for the purchase of a lottery ticket is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the purchase of a lottery ticket through the use of a credit or charge card or other instrument issued by a bank, savings association, credit union, or charge card company or by a retailer pursuant to part II of chapter 520, provided that any such purchase from a retailer shall be in addition to the purchase of goods and services other than lottery tickets having a cost of no less than $20.
(2) UNLAWFUL ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER OF RIGHT TO CLAIM PRIZE.—Any person who induces another to assign or transfer his or her right to claim a prize, who offers for sale his or her right to claim a prize, or who offers for compensation to claim the prize of another is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) COUNTERFEIT OR ALTERED TICKETS.—Any person who:
(a) Knowingly presents a counterfeit or altered state lottery ticket;
(b) Knowingly transfers a counterfeit or altered state lottery ticket to another to present for payment;
(c) With intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges, passes, or counterfeits a state lottery ticket; or
(d) Files with the department a claim for payment based upon facts alleged by the claimant which facts are untrue and known by the claimant to be untrue when the claim is made;
is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY.—Any person who, with intent to defraud or with intent to provide a financial or other advantage to himself, herself, or another, knowingly and willfully discloses any information relating to the lottery designated as confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) pursuant to this act is guilty of a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(5) UNLAWFUL REPRESENTATION.—
(a) Any person who uses point-of-sale materials issued by the department or otherwise holds himself or herself out as a retailer without being authorized by the department to act as a retailer is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(b) Any person who without being authorized by the department in writing uses the term “Florida Lottery,” “State Lottery,” “Florida State Lottery,” or any similar term in the title or name of any charitable or commercial enterprise, product, or service is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 18, ch. 87-65; s. 4, ch. 89-208; s. 6, ch. 90-360; s. 92, ch. 95-147; s. 9, ch. 96-406.
24.119 Use of word “lottery” in corporate name.—The corporate name of a corporation shall not contain the word “lottery” unless the Department of the Lottery approves such name in writing.
History.—s. 19, ch. 87-65; s. 2, ch. 95-280.
24.120 Financial matters; Operating Trust Fund; interagency cooperation.—
(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury an Operating Trust Fund to be administered in accordance with chapters 215 and 216 by the department. All money received by the department which remains after payment of prizes and initial compensation paid to retailers shall be deposited into the Operating Trust Fund. All moneys in the trust fund are appropriated to the department for the purposes specified in this act.
(2) Moneys available for the payment of prizes on a deferred basis shall be invested by the State Board of Administration in accordance with a trust agreement approved by the secretary and entered into between the department and the State Board of Administration in accordance with ss. 215.44-215.53. The investments authorized by this subsection shall be done in a manner designed to preserve capital and to ensure the integrity of the lottery disbursement system by eliminating the risk of payment of funds when due and to produce equal annual sums of money over the required term of the investments.
(3) Any action required by law to be taken by the Chief Financial Officer shall be taken within 2 business days after the department’s request therefor. If the request for action is not approved or rejected within that time period, the request shall be deemed to be approved. The department shall reimburse the Chief Financial Officer for any additional costs involved in providing the level of service required by this subsection.
(4) The department shall cooperate with the Chief Financial Officer, the Auditor General, and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability by giving employees designated by any of them access to facilities of the department for the purpose of efficient compliance with their respective responsibilities.
(5) With respect to any reimbursement that the department is required to pay to any state agency, the department may enter into an agreement with a state agency under which the department shall pay to the state agency an amount reasonably anticipated to cover the reimbursable expenses in advance of the expenses being incurred.
(6) The Department of Management Services may authorize a sales incentive program for employees of the department for the purpose of increasing the sales volume and distribution of lottery tickets. Payments pursuant to the program shall not be construed to be lump-sum salary bonuses.
History.—s. 20, ch. 87-65; s. 7, ch. 88-374; s. 5, ch. 89-208; s. 1, ch. 91-278; s. 9, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 15, ch. 93-260; s. 24, ch. 2001-266; s. 76, ch. 2003-261; s. 11, ch. 2006-79.
24.121 Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds for public education.—
(1) Variable percentages of the gross revenue from the sale of online and instant lottery tickets shall be returned to the public in the form of prizes paid by the department or retailers as authorized by this act. The variable percentages of gross revenue from the sale of online and instant lottery tickets returned to the public in the form of prizes shall be established by the department in a manner designed to maximize the amount of funds deposited under subsection (2).
(2) Each fiscal year, variable percentages of the gross revenue from the sale of online and instant lottery tickets as determined by the department consistent with subsection (1), and other earned revenue, excluding application processing fees, shall be deposited in the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury to be administered by the Department of Education. The Department of the Lottery shall transfer moneys to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund at least once each quarter. Funds in the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund shall be used to the benefit of public education in accordance with the provisions of this act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, lottery revenues transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund shall be reserved as needed and used to meet the requirements of the documents authorizing the bonds issued by the state pursuant to s. 1013.68, s. 1013.70, or s. 1013.737 or distributed to school districts for the Classrooms First Program as provided in s. 1013.68. Such lottery revenues are hereby pledged to the payment of debt service on bonds issued by the state pursuant to s. 1013.68, s. 1013.70, or s. 1013.737. Debt service payable on bonds issued by the state pursuant to s. 1013.68, s. 1013.70, or s. 1013.737 shall be payable from, and is secured by a first lien on, the first lottery revenues transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund in each fiscal year. Amounts distributable to school districts that request the issuance of bonds pursuant to s. 1013.68(3) are hereby pledged to such bonds pursuant to s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution.
(3) The funds remaining in the Operating Trust Fund after transfers to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund shall be used for the payment of administrative expenses of the department. These expenses shall include all costs incurred in the operation and administration of the lottery and all costs resulting from any contracts entered into for the purchase or lease of goods or services required by the lottery, including, but not limited to:
(a) The compensation paid to retailers;
(b) The costs of supplies, materials, tickets, independent audit services, independent studies, data transmission, advertising, promotion, incentives, public relations, communications, security, bonding for retailers, printing, distribution of tickets, and reimbursing other governmental entities for services provided to the lottery; and
(c) The costs of any other goods and services necessary for effectuating the purposes of this act.
(4) The unencumbered balance that remains in the Operating Trust Fund at the end of each fiscal year shall be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
(5)(a) Public educational programs and purposes funded by the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund may include, but are not limited to, endowment, scholarship, matching funds, direct grants, research and economic development related to education, salary enhancement, contracts with independent institutions to conduct programs consistent with the state master plan for postsecondary education, or any other educational program or purpose deemed desirable by the Legislature. Prior to the expenditure of these funds, each school district shall establish policies and procedures that define enhancement and the types of expenditures consistent with that definition.
(b) Except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e), the Legislature shall equitably apportion moneys in the trust fund among public schools, community colleges, and universities.
(c) A portion of such net revenues, as determined annually by the Legislature, shall be distributed to each school district and shall be made available to each public school in the district for enhancing school performance through development and implementation of a school improvement plan pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). A portion of these moneys, as determined annually in the General Appropriations Act, must be allocated to each school in an equal amount for each student enrolled. These moneys may be expended only on programs or projects selected by the school advisory council or by a parent advisory committee created pursuant to this paragraph. If a school does not have a school advisory council, the district advisory council must appoint a parent advisory committee composed of parents of students enrolled in that school, which is representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school, to advise the school’s principal on the programs or projects to be funded. Neither school district staff nor principals may override the recommendations of the school advisory council or the parent advisory committee. These moneys may not be used for capital improvements or for any project or program that has a duration of more than 1 year; however, a school advisory council or parent advisory committee may independently determine that a program or project formerly funded under this paragraph should receive funds in a subsequent year.
(d) No funds shall be released for any purpose from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to any school district in which one or more schools do not have an approved school improvement plan pursuant to s. 1001.42(18) or do not comply with school advisory council membership composition requirements pursuant to s. 1001.452(1). The Commissioner of Education shall withhold disbursements from the trust fund to any school district that fails to adopt the performance-based salary schedule required by s. 1012.22(1).
(e) All components of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program shall be funded annually from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. Funds shall be allocated to this program prior to application of the formula for equitable distribution to public schools, community colleges, and state universities. If shortages require reductions in estimated distributions from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, funds for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program shall be reduced only after reductions in all other distributions are made.
(f) Each school district shall, on a quarterly basis, make available to the public and distribute, in an easy to understand format, the expenditures of lottery funds allocated to the school district.
History.—s. 21, ch. 87-65; s. 6, ch. 89-208; s. 14, ch. 91-79; s. 2, ch. 91-278; s. 6, ch. 91-283; s. 1, ch. 96-341; s. 10, ch. 97-77; s. 43, ch. 97-190; s. 1, ch. 97-279; s. 12, ch. 97-384; s. 1, ch. 98-271; s. 20, ch. 98-281; s. 26, ch. 99-398; s. 1, ch. 2002-227; s. 883, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2003-1; s. 7, ch. 2003-391; s. 1, ch. 2003-406; s. 1, ch. 2004-271; s. 2, ch. 2005-84; s. 12, ch. 2006-79; s. 2, ch. 2008-108.
24.1211 Maturity of public school construction bonds issued pursuant to ch. 97-384.—After considering relevant factors in providing the most cost-effective plan for financing public school construction and in order to minimize amounts paid in interest on lottery revenue bonds issued pursuant to chapter 97-384, Laws of Florida, it is desirable that the final maturity of any such bonds not exceed 20 years, even though such limitation on maturity may require an increase in the maximum annual appropriation to reach the desired level of funding for public school construction.
History.—s. 14, ch. 98-47.
24.1215 Duty to inform public of lottery’s significance to education.—The Department of the Lottery shall inform the public about the significance of lottery funding to the state’s overall system of public education.
History.—s. 9, ch. 89-208.
24.122 Exemption from taxation; state preemption; inapplicability of other laws.—
(1) This act shall not be construed to authorize any lottery except the lottery operated by the department pursuant to this act.
(2) No state or local tax shall be imposed upon any prize paid or payable under this act or upon the sale of any lottery ticket pursuant to this act.
(3) All matters relating to the operation of the state lottery are preempted to the state, and no county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state shall enact any ordinance relating to the operation of the lottery authorized by this act. However, this subsection shall not prohibit a political subdivision of the state from requiring a retailer to obtain an occupational license for any business unrelated to the sale of lottery tickets.
(4) Any state or local law providing any penalty, disability, restriction, or prohibition for the possession, manufacture, transportation, distribution, advertising, or sale of any lottery ticket, including chapter 849, shall not apply to the tickets of the state lottery operated pursuant to this act; nor shall any such law apply to the possession of a ticket issued by any other government-operated lottery. In addition, activities of the department under this act are exempt from the provisions of:
(a) Chapter 616, relating to public fairs and expositions.
(b) Chapter 946, relating to correctional work programs.
(c) Chapter 282, relating to communications and data processing.
(d) Section 110.131, relating to other personal services.
History.—s. 22, ch. 87-65; s. 38, ch. 90-335; s. 92, ch. 92-142; s. 2, ch. 95-146.
24.123 Annual audit of financial records and reports.—
(1) The Legislative Auditing Committee shall contract with a certified public accountant licensed pursuant to chapter 473 for an annual financial audit of the department. The certified public accountant shall have no financial interest in any vendor with whom the department is under contract. The certified public accountant shall present an audit report no later than 7 months after the end of the fiscal year and shall make recommendations to enhance the earning capability of the state lottery and to improve the efficiency of department operations. The certified public accountant shall also perform a study and evaluation of internal accounting controls and shall express an opinion on those controls in effect during the audit period. The cost of the annual financial audit shall be paid by the department.
(2) The Auditor General may at any time conduct an audit of any phase of the operations of the state lottery and shall receive a copy of the yearly independent financial audit and any security report prepared pursuant to s. 24.108.
(3) A copy of any audit performed pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the secretary, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and members of the Legislative Auditing Committee.
History.—s. 23, ch. 87-65; s. 4, ch. 2001-89.
24.124 Responsibility for ticket accuracy; department, retailer, and vendor liability.—
(1) Purchasers of online games tickets shall be responsible for verifying the accuracy of their tickets, including the number or numbers printed on the tickets. In the event of an error, the ticket may be canceled and a replacement ticket issued pursuant to rules promulgated by the Department of the Lottery.
(2) Other than the issuance of a replacement ticket, there shall be no right or cause of action and no liability on the part of the department, retailer, vendor, or any other person associated with selling an online games ticket, with respect to errors or inaccuracies contained in the ticket, including errors in the number or numbers printed on the ticket.
History.—s. 8, ch. 96-341.