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Inventory of the California State Lottery Commission Records
R181
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Title: California State Lottery Commission Records
Dates: 1985-1999
Collection number: R181
Creator:
State Lottery Commission
Collection Size:
3 cubic feet and 4 audio reels
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The State Lottery Commission, a five-person commission appointed by the Governor with the concurrence of the State Senate,
was created with the passage of the California State Lottery Act of 1984. The records of the California State Lottery Commission
consist of 3 cubic feet and 4 audio reels of press and meeting files that cover the years 1985-1999. The majority of records
pertain to game regulations, contract approvals, and assorted reports.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], State Lottery Commission Records, R181.[Series Number], [box and folder number], California State
Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the State Lottery Commission Records according to state law.
On November 6, 1984, 58% of California's voters approved Proposition 37. This initiative statute was titled The California
State Lottery Act of 1984 and amended the California Constitution to authorize the establishment of a statewide lottery.
California State Lottery ticket sales began on October 3, 1985 with the sale of Scratcher tickets and the weekly Lotto game
began on October 14, 1986.
The Act created the State Lottery Commission (SLC), a five-person commission appointed by the Governor with the concurrence
of the State Senate. One of the Commissioners needed to have a background in law enforcement, one was a Certified Public
Accountant, and not more than three of the five Commissioners could be members of the same political party. The Commission
is responsible for determining the types of lotteries to be held, the frequency of lottery drawings, the price of lottery
tickets, the number and value of lottery prizes, and the locations where lottery tickets can be sold. The Commission is charged
with ensuring the integrity, security, and fairness of the Lottery. The Commission meets at least once per quarter and their
meetings are open to the public.
The primary purpose of the Act is to provide supplemental monies to benefit public education without the imposition of additional
or increased taxes. The initiative requires that 50% of the proceeds from lottery ticket sales are to be paid out as lottery
prizes and that no more than 16% of the proceeds are to be used for administrative costs. The remainder of the proceeds (at
least 34% of the total) were to be placed in a special fund, known as the California State Lottery Education Fund, which is
appropriated for the benefit of public education. Revenues to this fund are to be made available for public education and
allocated on a per-capita basis to the following four categories: K-12 education, Community Colleges, the California State
University, and the University of California. These funds are to be used to augment, rather than replace, funds already allocated
for public education and are to be spent for instructional purposes.
The records of the California State Lottery Commission consist of 3 cubic feet and four audio reels of press and meeting files
that cover the years 1985-1999. The Press File includes a proposed script for a televised special and a transcript of a press
conference. Meeting Files include agendas, minutes from previous meetings, transcripts, correspondence, reports, contract
agreements, travel plans, notes on general and public discussion, calendars for scheduled meetings, financial statements,
annual election of commissioners, and various types of approvals and amendments often pertaining to commission policies, game
regulations, game profiles, budgets, and marketing strategies.
The bulk of this collection dates from 1992-1997 and the majority of records pertain to game regulations, contract approvals,
and assorted reports. Events of interest found in the meeting files include the introduction the Retailer News publication
(1994), the Public School Marketing and Recognition Program (1995), Retailer Incentives for Scratcher Automation (1996), and
Year 2000 computer compliance arrangements (1998). In 1997, the Commission dealt with topics such as the Minority/Woman Owned
Business Enterprise Program, the Continuous Tracking Study, a Super Bowl promotion, the Small Business Outreach Program, and
Retailer Compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Technological improvement was emphasized in 1999 with
meeting items such as presentation of the new website, electronic funds transfer services, and regulations regarding the disclosure
of winner information.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
The Archives owns related artifacts including the original Wheel from the Big Spin Show.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California State Lottery
California State Lottery Commission
Lottery winners
Lottery ticket vendors