The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning the operation and governance of the state lottery, notably eliminating the requirement for the Governor to annually set the Secretary of the Department of the Lottery's compensation. 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 permitting courier services to deliver and redeem lottery tickets under specific conditions. Additionally, it enhances security measures by requiring studies and evaluations of lottery operations and establishing a secure database for stored lottery tickets, while imposing criminal penalties for false claims and theft by retailers and courier services.

Further changes include the requirement for vendors to disclose felony convictions or bankruptcies, granting the department authority to terminate contracts for non-compliance. The bill also allows for the leasing of vending machines that dispense lottery tickets and mandates performance bonds for vendor contracts. It introduces penalties for unlawful courier service operations and enforces stricter regulations on ticket purchases by individuals under 18 and employees of the department or vendors. The act aims to modernize the lottery system, improve transparency and accountability, and ensure compliance with updated operational standards, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

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