By Susan Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—A substitute to lottery bill SB3 was approved by the House Tourism and Marketing Committee on Wednesday afternoon.
When SB3 was voted on by the full Senate this week, the language did not completely reflect all of the amendments that had be agreed upon and mainly related to where the proceeds would be distributed.
A substitute was accepted at the beginning of the meeting incorporating all of the amended changes made in the Senate that failed to make it into the final draft.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville), said that the substitute was an “accurate reflection” of the Senate’s intent.
The language lays out that, the proceeds, after expenses and prizes will, “annually distribute ninety percent to the State General Fund, with the first one hundred million dollars allocated to the Medicaid Agency, and the remaining ten percent to the Education Trust Fund.”
A public hearing was held before the vote. McClendon spoke before the committee and bill cosponsor, Representative Alan Harper (R-Northport), asking them to give the bill a favorable report.
Most of the opponents and the proponents in the hearing were the same as in the Senate public hearing. The main difference: McClendon was able to speak to the bill. In the Senate committee, the microphone malfunctioned. So, by the time he was able to speak, the chairman, President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), was ready to take a vote.
The bill was given a favorable report by the committee and a full House vote is anticipated as late as Friday.
