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- Published: Thursday, February 08, 2018 11:42 AM
SPRINGFIELD – A new scratch-off Illinois Lottery game will create more revenue to benefit police memorials if a measure led by Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) becomes law.
The legislation, Senate Bill 2337, was approved in the Senate Revenue Committee yesterday .
“Preserving the memory of fallen officers through memorials, scholarships and assistance to their families shows our gratitude for their service,” said Munoz, a former Chicago police officer. “The families of these brave officers deserve support as they continue to heal from their loss, and they deserve to know their loved one’s service isn’t forgotten.”
The proceeds from the scratch-off will fund grants to be used for building and maintaining memorials and parks, holding annual commemorations, giving scholarships to children of officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty, and providing financial assistance to police officers and their families when an officer is killed or injured in the line of duty.
The game will begin Jan. 1, 2019 or as soon as possible if the legislation passes the full House and Senate and is signed into law. The net revenue will be deposited equally to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Fund, the Police Memorial Committee Fund and the Illinois State Police Memorial Fund.
The measure will now head to the full Senate for consideration.