(A)(1) There is created as a committee, the South Carolina Education Lottery Oversight Committee, to be composed of twelve members. The members of the committee must be appointed as follows: the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints three members, one of whom must be the Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee; the President of the Senate appoints three members, one of whom must be the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee; the Chairman of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education appoints three members; and the Chairman of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee appoints three members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate must each appoint one co-chairman from the membership of the South Carolina Education Lottery Oversight Committee. The oversight committee must periodically, but at least annually, inquire into and review the operations of the commission and review and evaluate the success with which the commission is accomplishing its statutory duties and functions as provided in this chapter. The oversight committee must also hold an annual public hearing and may conduct an independent audit or investigation of the commission as necessary.

(2) The South Carolina Education Lottery Oversight Committee may initiate and propose changes in the laws of this State so as to prevent abuses and evasions of this chapter or its regulations or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the lottery.

(3) If the funds available for distribution pursuant to § 59-150-350 fall below seventy-five million dollars for any fiscal year, the oversight committee must immediately conduct an investigation into the reasons for the shortfall and, upon conclusion of their investigation, report their findings along with recommendations for changes in the laws or regulations governing the conduct of the lottery to the executive director, the board, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The investigation must be completed and the reports delivered to the appropriate officials within one hundred and eighty days of the end of the fiscal year for the shortfall.

(B) No later than December first of each year, the commission must provide to the oversight committee a complete report of the level of participation of minority businesses in all retail and procurement contracts awarded by the commission.

(C) No later than December first of each year for the first five years the lottery is operational, the commission must provide to the oversight committee a complete report of a demographic analysis of lottery players. The commission must employ an independent firm experienced in demographic analysis to conduct the demographic study of lottery players. Data may be collected through surveys, but must not be collected from players at the time of purchase or point of sale. The report must include the income, age, sex, education, and frequency of participation of players. The first report conducted pursuant to this section must be initiated no later than six months after the first sale of a ticket to a player pursuant to this chapter.

(D) The board must report to the Lottery Oversight Committee any matters it considers require an immediate change in the laws of this State so as to prevent abuses and evasions of this chapter or rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to it or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration or operation of the lottery.

(E) The board must advise and make recommendations to the executive director regarding the functions and operations of the lottery. A copy of all those recommendations must be forwarded to the Lottery Oversight Committee.