The net proceeds received from the state lottery for education as provided by law must be deposited by the State Treasurer in a fund separate and distinct from the state general fund entitled the "Education Lottery Account". All interest or income earned by the fund must be retained in the account and used for its stated purposes. However, all revenue received by the Education Lottery Account in any fiscal year together with earnings on it for that year must be disbursed as required by Section 59-150-350 and as appropriated by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years. It is the intent of the General Assembly in creating this Education Lottery Account that its funds be managed so as to establish and fund these programs permanently. Upon receipt of monies transferred to the Education Lottery Account held by the State Treasurer, these monies must be appropriated by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years to the programs and for the purposes stipulated in Section 59-150-350. The Comptroller General shall record these revenues received on a cash basis, and disbursements for the purposes provided also must be on a cash basis; however, unexpended funds at the end of a fiscal year after disbursement to the programs authorized to receive the funds as provided in Section 59-150-350 and as appropriated by the General Assembly in its annual general appropriations bill or any bill appropriating monies for previous or current fiscal years may be carried forward to future years and expended for the same purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no distribution may be made from the Education Lottery Account until net proceeds in the account exceed thirty-five million dollars.
HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 59, Section 2.