SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- A House committee is approving $33 million to set up a program for regulating the carrying of concealed firearms.

The Public Safety Appropriations panel approved the measure Tuesday as part of a $46.6 million supplemental appropriation. Rep. Luis Arroyo (loo-EES' uh-ROY'-oh) - a Chicago Democrat - says only about $500,000 of it is new general-revenue spending.

The legislation gives the Illinois State Police authority to use money from $150 concealed-carry permit fees to pay for the additional staff and equipment necessary to set up the program.

Lawmakers approved concealed carry last summer after a federal appeals court said Illinois' last-in-the-nation ban was unconstitutional.

Permits will be available in January. State Police officials expect as much as 300,000 applicants in the first year.
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The bill is HB209.