Assembly Approves Landmark Mullin Mega Millions Bill

Bill Would Focus Aid on California’s Neediest Schools

The California State Assembly approved a bill that would direct Mega Millions lottery revenue to California public schools populated by the state’s neediest students.

Assembly Bill 1782, authored by Assemblymember Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco), passed out of the Assembly by a vote of 42-32, with six legislators abstaining. The bill authorizes a ballot measure enabling the California State Lottery Commission to enter a multi-state lottery agreement and ensures that Mega Millions education revenue is distributed to public schools on a weighted, per-pupil basis. The revenue formula would channel added funds to K-12 school districts based on the number of special education students, English Language Learners, and students who receive free or reduced-cost meals in each school district.

“Millions of students in our state face challenges in their everyday lives that place them at an inherent disadvantage in the classroom,” Mullin said. “The passage of this bill is an important step toward creating equity for California students.”

The bill also provides a “backfill” clause to guarantee that all schools in California continue to receive state lottery funds at the same level received during the 2004-05 academic year. The California Federation of Teachers (CFT) is actively supporting Mullin’s bill.

The bill now moves to the State Senate Committee on Education, where it will likely be heard later this month.

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