Bill would lower lottery’s costs

Legislation was introduced Friday to cut administrative spending at the California Lottery, to study the possibility of leasing it to a contractor, and to make the games more enticing.

Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) cited controversy over lottery officials’ holding an expensive party for employees in his introduction of SB 1679, which would lower the cap on administrative spending of lottery funds from 16% to 13%.

The bill would also allow the lottery to increase prize payouts and bring scratcher games in line with other successful lotteries, Florez said.

The legislation would also allow the lottery to modernize vending machines, offering new features, including the ability to give change.

Florez also introduced SB 440, which calls for the hiring of a financial advisor to report on the potential revenue from leasing the lottery to a private company.

-- Patrick McGreevy