Tuesday, March 19, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A House committee has approved measures aimed at legalizing raffles in South Carolina.

The Judiciary committee voted unanimously Monday on measures enabling nonprofits to hold a limited number of raffles yearly. One measure would ask voters on 2014 ballots whether the constitution should be changed to allow raffles. The other outlines how a legal raffle could be run and regulated.

If voters approve, raffles could become legal in 2015. The Senate approved the measures last month.

The committee votes come a week after an investigation into a veterans charity in Florida included arrests in South Carolina. That case never came up Tuesday.

House Majority Leader Bruce Bannister told committee members the legislation covers all anticipated pitfalls.

That includes a provision barring organizers from profiting from raffles.

(Copyright 2013, The Associated Press)