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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY CAUSER, HENNESSEY, BAKER, BOBACK, CIVERA, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GROVE, HESS, HICKERNELL, M. KELLER, KILLION, MANDERINO, MARSICO, MILLER, MURT, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROSS, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STERN, TALLMAN, TRUE, TURZAI, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, MARCH 9, 2009 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES, MARCH 9, 2009 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to |
2 | conduct a study of the Pennsylvania Lottery relating to its |
3 | ability to continue to support programs and services for |
4 | older Pennsylvanians. |
5 | WHEREAS, When the General Assembly enacted the State Lottery |
6 | Law in August 1971, the Commonwealth became the fifth state to |
7 | authorize the operation of a lottery; and |
8 | WHEREAS, Although 43 states currently have legal lotteries, |
9 | the Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only program that earmarks |
10 | lottery profits solely for programs and services for older |
11 | residents; and |
12 | WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has one of the oldest populations |
13 | in the United States, with statistics indicating that one out of |
14 | every five people is 60 years of age or older; and |
15 | WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Pennsylvania Lottery has |
16 | provided more than $18.3 billion to allow older citizens to |
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1 | benefit from a variety of programs and services, including low- |
2 | cost prescription drugs, property tax and rent rebates, low-cost |
3 | senior transportation programs, long-term care services |
4 | administered by the Department of Public Welfare and home and |
5 | community-based services made available through local area |
6 | agencies on aging and senior community centers throughout this |
7 | Commonwealth; and |
8 | WHEREAS, According to Pennsylvania Lottery reports, the 2006 |
9 | lottery ticket sales gain of 16% shrank to a 0.2% sales gain in |
10 | 2007 and to a 0.4% sales gain in 2008; and |
11 | WHEREAS, Although Pennsylvania Lottery ticket sales increased |
12 | slightly, from $3.08 billion in fiscal year 2007 to $3.1 billion |
13 | in fiscal year 2008, the net proceeds fell after prizes and |
14 | costs were paid; and |
15 | WHEREAS, Since the introduction of casino gambling in this |
16 | Commonwealth, a lingering concern has existed regarding the |
17 | impact of legalized slot machines on lottery sales and the |
18 | potential impact of proposed legalized video poker; and |
19 | WHEREAS, State Lottery Fund revenues have increasingly been |
20 | drawn upon to meet certain General Fund obligations, as well as |
21 | to expedite property tax relief for some residents of this |
22 | Commonwealth; and |
23 | WHEREAS, Recent trends raise serious questions regarding the |
24 | future ability of the State Lottery Fund to meet the increasing |
25 | demand for services for older Pennsylvanians; and |
26 | WHEREAS, The last comprehensive review of State Lottery |
27 | funding of programs and services for older Pennsylvanians was |
28 | conducted as mandated under the former Lottery Fund Preservation |
29 | Act and resulted in a June 1994 report issued by the Legislative |
30 | Budget and Finance Committee; therefore be it |
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1 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the |
2 | Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of |
3 | the Pennsylvania Lottery relating to its ability to continue to |
4 | support programs and services for older Pennsylvanians; and be |
5 | it further |
6 | RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee |
7 | identify all programs, services and functions funded through the |
8 | State Lottery Fund and determine their costs and services or |
9 | activity levels; examine all State Lottery Fund programs, |
10 | services and functions and analyze projections of future program |
11 | demand, service levels and associated costs; determine the |
12 | current and projected financial condition of the State Lottery |
13 | Fund; analyze Pennsylvania Lottery sales, including both short- |
14 | term and long-term projections of net collections, to determine |
15 | if State Lottery Fund revenues will be sufficient to support |
16 | lottery-funded programs, services and functions at existing or |
17 | expanded levels or, if cutbacks or program changes will be |
18 | necessary, to maintain the solvency of the State Lottery Fund; |
19 | and determine if changes to law, regulation or policy are needed |
20 | to maintain the future solvency of the State Lottery Fund; and |
21 | be it further |
22 | RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee |
23 | prepare a report of its findings and transmit copies of the |
24 | report to the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee and the |
25 | Finance Committee of the House of Representatives no later than |
26 | one year after adoption of this resolution. |
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