SB59 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

This bill would propose a constitutional amendment to establish an Alabama Education Lottery and the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation and provide for the proceeds to go to the Education Trust Fund and postsecondary education scholarships. The amendment would also authorize and regulate Class II gaming, as defined in the Indian Gaming Control Act, at Greenetrack in Greene County, the Alabama Center Stage Bingo Facility in Houston County operated by the Houston County Economic Development Association, and at VictoryLand in Macon County, upon payment of an initial license fee of $25,000,000 for the first 25 years and a 25 percent tax on gaming profits, and authorize and regulate Class III gaming, as defined in the Indian Gaming Control Act, at a site in the downtown city center of the City of Birmingham to be selected on a request for proposal basis, and a site in DeKalb, Jackson, or Marshall County to be operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, each with a minimum license fee of $250,000,000 for gaming rights at the location for 25 years, a minimum capital investment of $250,000,000 to create a destination resort in the city center of Birmingham and DeKalb, Jackson, or Marshall County, respectively, and a tax of 25 percent of the gaming profits

The proposed amendment would provide for the payment of the license fees into the General Fund and the division of the taxes on Class II and Class III gaming between the Education Trust Fund, the General Fund, the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission, and the respective local governments

The amendment would also create the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission to supervise the Alabama Education Lottery and Alabama Education Lottery Corporation and to license and regulate the Class II and Class III gaming authorized by the amendment. The amendment would require the Governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and would repeal Amendments 743 and 744 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, authorizing charitable bingo in Greene and Macon Counties, respectively

Proposing an amendment to Section 65 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide for the Alabama Education Lottery and authorize and regulate Class II and Class III gaming, as defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, at specified locations; to require one-time license fees for a 25-year license to go the General Fund, and an annual tax of 25 percent of gaming profits, with the proceeds to go to the Education Trust Fund, the state General Fund, the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission, and respective local governments; to require minimum capital investment at Class III gaming sites; to create the Alabama Education Lottery Corporation; to create the Alabama Education Lottery and Gaming Commission to implement, regulate, and administer the lottery and gaming; to authorize the Governor to negotiate a compact for gaming with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians; to require the Legislature to pass general laws to implement the amendment; to require the commission to promulgate rules to effect legislation so enacted; and to repeal Amendments 743 and 744 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901.