HJR 29 -- VETERANS LOTTERY TICKET

SPONSOR:  Solon

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Veterans
by a vote of 14 to 0.

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment
requires the State Lottery Commission to develop and begin
selling a "Veterans Lottery Ticket" by July 1, 2013.  All
proceeds received from the sale of these tickets must be
deposited into the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust
Fund.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund of an
income of $0 or a cost of More than $7,000,000 in FY 2012, an
income of $0 or a cost of More than $7,000,000 in FY 2013, and an
income of $0 in FY 2014.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY
2012, FY 2013, and FY 2014.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Veterans Commission Capital
Improvement Trust Fund has nearly been depleted.  It is believed
that by the end of 2013 the Veterans Commission will have to
start closing veteran homes due to lack of funds.  A veterans
lottery ticket is not a total solution for the problem, but it
will help.  The Veterans Service Officer Program is also affected
by the lack of funds in the trust fund.  The program brings in
millions of dollars from the federal Veterans Administration
through matching funds, and the trust fund is vital to the
Veterans Service Officer Program.  It is critical to keep the
trust fund solvent in order to keep the homes and programs
operating.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Solon; Missouri
Veterans Commission; Dewey Riehn, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States, Missouri Department; Rich Higert, American Legion,
Department of Missouri; and Jesse Jones, Missouri Association of
Veterans Associations.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill were available for
informational purposes.

Testifying on the bill was Missouri Lottery Commission.

Missouri House of Representatives
96th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 9, 2011 at 1:29 pm