Governor Signs McAuliffe's Police Memorial Fund Bill

CHICAGO — Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed a bill to create a new Illinois Lottery scratch-off game from which proceeds will fund police memorials, support for the families of officers killed or severely injured in the line of duty, and protective vest replacements for officers.

Rep. McAuliffe joined House Republican Leader Jim Durkin in pushing forward House Bill 5513, which creates the police memorial instant ticket and requires that net proceeds go to the Criminal Justice Information Projects Fund. The funds are then to be divided equally among the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Fund, the Police Memorial Committee Fund, and the Illinois State Police Memorial Fund. The three designated police memorial funds provide support to families of officers who have been killed or severely injured in the line of duty.

"The money voluntarily generated by these games will help to ensure that proper care is given to the fitting tributes all over the state to those who gave their lives for our continued safety," Rep. McAuliffe said.

The funds raised through this new scratch-off ticket will be used to build and maintain police memorials and parks, hold annual memorial commemorations, give scholarships to children of officers killed or severely injured in the line of duty, provide financial assistance to police officers and their families when a police officer is killed or injured in the line of duty, and provide financial assistance to officers to purchase or replace protective gear.

The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2019.