The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes concerning the operation and governance of the state lottery, notably eliminating the requirement for the Governor to set the Secretary of the Department of the Lottery's compensation annually. It revises the definition of "major procurement" and introduces new terms such as "ball machine," "courier service," and "debit card." The legislation establishes new operational rules, allowing the use of debit cards for ticket purchases and authorizing courier services to manage lottery tickets under specific conditions. Additionally, it increases the bond amount required from lottery retailers and mandates that courier services maintain secure databases for stored tickets.

The bill also enhances security measures by requiring biannual comprehensive studies and evaluations of lottery operations, with findings reported to key state officials. It imposes stricter regulations on lottery retailers and courier services, including prohibitions against false claims and theft of lottery tickets, with associated criminal penalties. Other amendments include vendor disclosure requirements regarding felony convictions or bankruptcies, the leasing of vending machines for lottery ticket sales, and the establishment of penalties for unlawful courier service operations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 896 Filed: 20.317, 24.113, 24.119, 24.120, 24.1215, 24.124