HB209 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Lottery, authorized, Alabama Lottery Corporation, created, distrib. of revenues for college scholarships, Sec. 65, Constitution of Alabama of 1901 am'd., const. amend.

Summary

The bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to create a state lottery and a dedicated fund to provide scholarships for Alabama students at public colleges, overseen by a new Alabama Lottery Corporation.

What This Bill Does

It proposes establishing an Alabama Lottery and an Alabama Lottery Corporation to run and regulate the lottery. Net lottery proceeds would first cover operating costs and prizes, with the remaining funds deposited into the Lottery Trust Fund to provide scholarships for qualifying Alabama students attending public two- or four-year colleges in Alabama. The Legislature would enact general laws to implement the change, and the Lottery Corporation could enter reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions while limiting games to those it approves.

Who It Affects

• Qualifying Alabama students (A/B Honor Roll) who plan to attend public two- or four-year colleges in Alabama would receive scholarships funded by the Lottery Trust Fund.
• Alabama residents who may participate in the lottery (buying tickets and interacting with the Lottery Corporation), and state government stakeholders who oversee the program and its funding.

Key Provisions

• Establishes an Alabama Lottery and an Alabama Lottery Corporation to administer and regulate the lottery, with implementation details to be set by general law.
• Creates a Lottery Trust Fund where net lottery proceeds are deposited after paying operating expenses and prizes, to be used for scholarships for Alabama citizens attending Alabama public colleges.
• Allocates funds so that proceeds go exclusively to scholarships for qualifying Alabama students who are A/B Honor Roll and attend Alabama two- or four-year institutions.
• Allows reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions for operating and promoting eligible games, and limits activities to games approved by the Alabama Lottery Corporation.
• Authorizes the Legislature to implement the amendment through general law, with existing or future related laws to take precedence over conflicting provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments