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SB 3923

VETERAN SCRATCH-OFF GAME

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Porfirio

Establishes a veterans scratch-off game with net proceeds deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund to fund veteran services.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3923

Summary of SB 3923 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Overview

  • Title: VETERAN SCRATCH-OFF GAME
  • Purpose: Amend the Illinois Lottery Law to modify governing rules for a scratch-off game funded for Illinois veterans and to adjust the oversight structure and fund administration.
  • Introduced by: Sen. Mike Porfirio; Co-sponsor: Mike Porfirio
  • Status: Introduced February 6, 2026. House/Senate committee actions and final passage pending.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Create and govern a special instant scratch-off game dedicated to benefiting Illinois veterans.
  • Establish a dedicated funding mechanism (Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund) to support veteran-related programs and services.
  • Ensure expenditures from the fund are overseen by a small, specifically structured funding authorization committee, with two-thirds voting requirements and director oversight.

Key Provisions

A. Creation and Operation of the Veterans Scratch-Off Game

  • The Department of the Lottery shall offer a special instant scratch-off game for the benefit of Illinois veterans.
  • The game is to commence on January 1, 2006 (retroactive date in the law) or as soon thereafter as practicable, under the Department’s rules and the Illinois Lottery Law.

B. Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund

  • A new special fund in the State treasury: the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund.
  • Net revenue from the veterans scratch-off game shall be deposited into this Fund and appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Eligible uses (to support veterans):
    • Behavioral health services
    • Homelessness-related services for veterans
    • Health insurance costs of veterans
    • Disability benefits (including those provided by veterans' service organizations and VA-related centers)
    • Long-term care for veterans
    • Veteran employment and employment training
    • Emergency financial assistance (e.g., past-due utilities, housing, transportation)

C. Funding Authorization Committee

  • Beginning with fiscal year 2008, a 3-member funding authorization committee shall be appointed by the Director of Veterans Affairs.
    • One member must be from the Veterans' Advisory Council.
    • The Director shall designate a chairperson.
  • Committee duties:
    • Meet at least twice per year (the bill specifies “twice a year on a quarterly basis, at a minimum,” effectively requiring at least bimonthly presentations; the text emphasizes minimum twice yearly meetings).
    • Expenditures from the Fund require a two-thirds vote to authorize.
    • Decisions do not take effect until approved by the Director of Veterans Affairs.
    • Members serve until replaced by the Director.
  • Purpose: Ensure prudent authorization of expenditures from the Fund.

D. Restrictions and Administration

  • Funds from the scratch-off game are intended as supplemental resources and must not supplant existing VA or related programs with the same purpose.
  • All revenues for the Fund (including net revenue from the scratch-off game and any gifts, grants, or awards) must be deposited into the Fund, and interest earned must also be deposited there.
  • Net revenue definition: Total ticket sales minus prizes paid, retailer commissions, and direct/estimated administrative expenses of the Department related to the scratch-off game.

E. Departmental Marketing

  • While the veterans scratch-off game is active, the Department must not unreasonably diminish efforts to market other existing instant scratch-off games.

F. Administrative Authority

  • The Department may adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this Section.

Affected Parties

  • Illinois Department of the Lottery: Responsible for launching and administering the veterans scratch-off game; implementing rules; reporting net revenues.
  • Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs: Receives appropriations from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund; oversight via the funding authorization committee; programs affected include behavioral health, homelessness, health insurance, disability benefits, long-term care, employment, and emergency assistance.
  • Veterans in Illinois: Beneficiaries of expanded or new programs funded through the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund.
  • Veterans' Advisory Council: One member of the funding authorization committee must be from this council.

Timelines and Procedural Notes

  • Scratch-off game commencement: January 1, 2006 or as soon thereafter as practicable (existing statutory reference, implying transition/retroactive applicability).
  • Fund and committee: Set to operate beginning fiscal year 2008, with the committee authorized to meet at least twice annually to approve expenditures by two-thirds vote; Director of Veterans Affairs must approve committee decisions before they take effect.
  • Revenue use: Net revenues and any interest must be deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund and used for designated veteran services, subject to the two-thirds vote requirement.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased dedicated funding for veteran services in Illinois, potentially expanding access to behavioral health services, housing support, health insurance costs, disability benefits-related programs, long-term care, employment, and emergency financial aid.
  • Enhanced governance and transparency through a formal funding authorization committee with majority (two-thirds) voting requirements.
  • Ensures that new veterans-focused funding supplements, rather than replaces, existing state expenditures for veteran programs.
  • Administrative and regulatory changes for Lottery operations to implement and monitor the veteran-specific game and fund.

If you’d like, I can add a plain-language comparison to current law or outline potential fiscal implications based on typical scratch-off revenue benchmarks.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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