The State - News from Jan. 4, 1985

The State Lottery Commission would have to give preference to nonprofit organizations, including churches and community groups, when picking sellers of lottery tickets under a bill introduced by Assemblyman Art Agnos (D-San Francisco). The measure, which would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and signed by the governor, would still allow commercial sales by retailers but would provide a way of steering some lottery profits to charitable groups. In November, voters approved Proposition 37, which called for a lottery start-up by March 21. However, Gov. George Deukmejian has not yet appointed the five-member Lottery Commission, which will select sellers and decide the types of games that will be played.