Illinois Lawmakers' Spring Session Wrapping Up: To-Go Cocktail Sales Extended, College Team Sports Betting Approved, Ban On Police Lying To Children In Interrogations Passed
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- Monday was the final day of the Spring Session for the Illinois legislature with a number of bills still in the works, including the state budget.
Despite it being a holiday, Illinois lawmakers were busy Memorial Day night trying to get several bills passed before the Spring session ended at midnight. As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, bills from gambling to new alcohol sales were waiting for the governor to sign Monday night.
The next time you head to Wintrust Arena, it could be legal to place a bet on an Illinois college team. After much talk over the years, the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill permitting gambling on your favorite college team – but not individual players – making it clear that the bets must be made in person.
Yet college athletes could see some green coming their way too. Illinois is on target to join 15 other states allowing college athletes to hire agents.
Essentially under the law, players could go after endorsement deals.
It mirrors the willingness from the NCAA to allow athletes to get paid on their image and likeness. If signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, it would go into effect July 1 – and those college athletes could cash in by this upcoming fall semester.
Meanwhile, after coming up with unique ways to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers in Springfield decided in the final hours to keep the drinks flowing – specifically in to-go cups.
Lawmakers approved legislation so that bars can sell cocktails to go for three more years. Both the state House and Senate passed the bill, in what is considered another boost in income to help in pandemic recovery.
Lawmakers also approved a one-month allowance of free drinks to encourage people to get a COVID vaccine.
From June 10 to July 10, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., bars and restaurants can serve a free alcoholic beverage to customers who show a COVID vaccination card and ID.
But don't plan to get the freebie over and over. Restaurants can only give a customer a free drink one time.
A few other proposals also await Gov. Pritzker's signature - including a lie ban, which makes it illegal for police officers to lie to children during an interrogation.
Studies showed these tactics are two to three times more likely to intimidate children into confessing to things they didn't do.
Schools would not be allowed to use locked seclusion or prone restraint on students, when a person is put facedown with physical pressure on their back to stay in that position.
Both houses also approved a bill for kids in state care – making sure each one gets a duffel bag or tote bag, since the move around a lot. It may sound like a small thing, but until now, many had to use garbage bags.
There were many items that lawmakers were still examining as of the 10 p.m. hour. Topping the list is deciding on a budget and spending plan.
It is a $41 million budget, and the new fiscal year starts July 1.
Lawmakers Monday also negotiated negotiating how to spend more than $8 billion in federal pandemic assistance.
The state is not allowed to use it to pay debts.
Legislators were looking at one-time uses so they don't have to provide future state spending for projects.
