Hearings on Alabama Medicaid Lottery Bill

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s lottery proposal, as well as competing plans, were scheduled for consideration this past Tuesday in an Alabama Senate committee. The Tourism and Marketing Committee will consider the bills by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) and others. McClendon, as expected, introduced two lottery bills on Monday, the first day of a special session called by Bentley. McClendon is sponsoring Bentley’s bill for a lottery to support the state General Fund. McClendon’s second bill would allow a lottery, as well as electronic lottery games at the state’s four greyhound tracks. It would provide money for both the General Fund and the Education Trust Fund. McClendon’s second bill also calls for the governor to negotiate a gaming compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who operate electronic bingo casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka. And it calls for a bond issue to help fund Medicaid.

If approved by the committee, the bills could be on the Senate floor for consideration as early as Wednesday. All lottery bills are constitutional amendments, which require approval by three-fifths of senators and representatives in order to go on the ballot for voters. For a proposal to be on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election, it would have to pass the Legislature by Aug. 24. The Tourism and Marketing Committee is scheduled to consider three other gambling bills that are all proposed constitutional amendments.

Source/more: AL.com

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.