FL H1049

Urges the Florida Legislature to evaluate how lottery funds have been used to support public education from 1987 to present, determining whether funds increased education spending as voters intended or merely replaced existing funding.

Notes that currently only 26.9 percent of lottery proceeds support public education, while 73.1 percent is used for other purposes.

Identifies the 10 lowest-performing school districts in Florida as Gadsden, Jefferson, Bradford, Desoto, Hamilton, Glades, Hardee, Franklin, Highlands, and Putnam counties, with two counties severely impacted by Hurricane Michael.

References Gadsden County School Board's October 29, 2018 resolution proposing an even split of lottery funds between prize winners and public education funding, which would increase education spending by 18.95 percent.

Requests findings be presented to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, with evaluation of the Gadsden County School Board proposal.