Substitute Senate Bill No. 1237 proposes significant amendments to the operations of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC), focusing on delinquency assessments, licensing processes, and advertising practices. The bill redefines "delinquency assessment" to include the principal amount due, penalties, and outstanding interest, and introduces a process for lottery sales agents to apply for hardship waivers regarding delinquent accounts. This allows agents to establish payment plans if they can demonstrate undue hardship. Additionally, the president of the CLC is granted the authority to reduce interest amounts owed by agents. The bill also streamlines vendor licensing by exempting certain ticket distributors from needing a vendor license and categorizes occupational licenses into four classes, with new application fees established for each class.

Moreover, the bill enhances regulatory practices by requiring vendors to report incidents that disrupt the lottery gaming system within 24 hours and mandates the adoption of procedures to extend the redemption period for winning lottery tickets from 180 days to 365 days by July 1, 2026. It also updates advertising regulations to prohibit marketing aimed at individuals under 21 years of age and allows CLC employees with active licenses to receive endorsements for online gaming without needing separate licenses. The effective date for most provisions is set for January 1, 2026, with specific provisions on delinquency assessments effective July 1, 2025. Overall, these changes aim to modernize the CLC's operations, improve the integrity of gaming activities, and ensure responsible advertising practices.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 12-569, 12-859c
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 12-569, 12-859c
File No. 575: 12-569, 12-859c