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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing January 12, 2008, as the 20th

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Anniversary of the Florida Lottery's efforts in supporting

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education and Bright Futures Scholarships for Florida

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students.

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Lottery was created in 1986 pursuant to

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a constitutional amendment that passed by a two-to-one margin,

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and

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     WHEREAS, voters gave their approval to create a lottery that

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uses all its proceeds to enhance public education in Florida, and

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     WHEREAS, on January 12, 1988, Florida Lottery ticket sales

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began 6 days ahead of schedule with the launch of the first

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Scratch-Off game, "MILLIONAIRE," which generated more than $95

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million in sales during its first week and set a record in the

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lottery industry, and

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     WHEREAS, the mission of the Florida Lottery is to maximize

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revenues in a manner consonant with the dignity of the state and

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the welfare of the public, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Lottery is a multibillion-dollar state

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revenue resource in which customer value, public trust, and an

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unwavering commitment to the enhancement of public education are

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cultivated and celebrated with honesty, creativity, and

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diversity, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Lottery has consistently remained a

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reliable contributor to education in the state, having more than

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tripled its average monthly contribution to the Educational

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Enhancement Trust Fund since its first transfer of funds in

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February 1988, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Lottery transferred $1.26 billion in

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the 2006-2007 fiscal year, and has transferred more than $1

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billion in each of the last 5 consecutive fiscal years, and

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     WHEREAS, since its inception, the Florida Lottery has

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transferred a total of more than $18 billion to the Educational

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Enhancement Trust Fund, and

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     WHEREAS, dollars from the Florida Lottery reach every level

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of public education in the state, contributing to K-12 programs

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in Florida's 67 school districts, to the building and renovation

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of schools throughout the state, and to funding for state

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universities and community colleges, as well as fully funding

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more than one million Bright Futures Scholarships to date, NOW,

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THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate recognizes January 12, 2008, as the

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20th Anniversary of the Florida Lottery's continuing support for

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education and its full funding of the Bright Futures Scholarship

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Program to benefit Florida students, and wholeheartedly supports

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the efforts and vision of the Florida Lottery.