What's happening
This bill requires all unclaimed New York lottery prize money to be paid directly into the state treasury's lottery fund.
Why it matters
Eliminates flexibility in how unclaimed lottery funds are used. Previously, unclaimed prize money could be repurposed for special or promotional lottery games, potentially boosting ticket sales or offering special prizes. The bill removes this option, requiring all unclaimed funds to go directly into the state treasury.
Increases transparency and oversight of unclaimed lottery funds. By mandating that these funds be credited to the state lottery fund in the treasury, it reduces administrative discretion and the potential for behind-the-scenes changes in how the money is used.
Potentially affects funding for lottery promotions and special games. Since promotional activities and special game prizes would no longer be supported by unclaimed prize money, there may be fewer incentives or special draws for players, possibly impacting ticket sales and player engagement.
Redirects resources toward state priorities. By placing all unclaimed lottery winnings into the state lottery fund, the money is more likely to support broader state programs (such as education, if earmarked) rather than being recycled back into the lottery system itself.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Send Unclaimed Lottery Money
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Send Unclaimed Lottery Money to State
In Senate Committee · Racing, Gaming And Wagering · Sponsor Timothy M. Kennedy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1346
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to requiring unclaimed lottery prizes to be paid into the state treasury
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 1614 of the tax law, as amended by chapter 170 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
a. No prize claim shall be valid if submitted to the division following the expiration of a one-year time period from the date of the drawing or from the close of the game in which a prize was won, and the person otherwise entitled to such prize shall forfeit any claim or entitlement to such prize moneys. Unclaimed prize money, plus interest earned thereon, shall be [retained in the lottery prize account to be used for payment of special lotto or supplemental lotto prizes offered pursuant to the plan or plans specified in this article, or for promotional purposes to supplement other games on an occasional basis not to exceed sixteen weeks within any twelve month period pursuant to the plan or plans specified in this article.
In the event that the director proposes to change any plan for the use of unclaimed prize funds or in the event the director intends to use funds in a game other than the game from which such unclaimed prize funds were derived, the director of the budget, the chairperson of the senate finance committee, and the chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee shall be notified in writing separately detailing the proposed changes to any plan prior to the implementation of the changes] paid into the state treasury, to the credit of the state lottery fund created by section ninety-two-c of the state finance law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04191-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.