HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett is taking steps toward hiring a private company to run the Pennsylvania state lottery in an effort to improve cash flow.

A person familiar with the process said the Corbett administration will announce Monday that it’s issuing a request for qualifications from private companies that are interested in managing the nation’s sixth-largest lottery.

The person spoke Saturday on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t want to be identified revealing details of the announcement before it happens. An interested company will have 30 days to respond. A Corbett spokesman declined comment.

The lottery reported $3.2 billion in sales in the 2010-11 fiscal year. After prizes and expenses, about one-third of that goes to programs for the elderly, including transit, prescription drugs, senior centers and long-term care services.

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