PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON LOTTERIES AND THE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PROHIBITION, BY ADDING A NEW PARAGRAPH SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL ENACT A GENERAL LAW AUTHORIZING A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION TO CONDUCT A RAFFLE, AND WHICH DEFINES THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATION ALLOWED TO CONDUCT A RAFFLE, PROVIDES THE STANDARDS FOR THE CONDUCT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RAFFLE, PROVIDES PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS, AND ENSURES THE PROPER FUNCTIONING, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE RAFFLE IS CONDUCTED, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A RAFFLE CONDUCTED IN CONFORMITY WITH LAWS ENACTED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH IS NOT CONSIDERED A LOTTERY PROHIBITED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    It is proposed that Section 7, Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding a new paragraph at the end to read:

"The General Assembly shall enact a general law authorizing a charitable organization to conduct a raffle. The law must define the type of charitable organization authorized to conduct the raffle, provide standards for the management and conduct of the raffle, provide penalties for violations, and ensures the proper functioning, honesty, integrity, and charitable purposes for which the raffle is conducted. A raffle conducted in conformity with the laws enacted pursuant to this paragraph is not considered a lottery prohibited by this section."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 7, Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly shall enact a general law authorizing a charitable organization to conduct a raffle and which defines the type of organization authorized to conduct a raffle, provides standards for the management and conduct of a raffle, provides penalties for violations, and ensures the proper functioning, honesty, integrity, and charitable purpose for which the raffle is conducted, and to provide that a raffle conducted in conformity with the laws enacted pursuant to this paragraph is not considered a lottery prohibited by the Constitution?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."