Lawmakers Approve Multiple Measures On Final Day Of NJ Legislative Session
TRENTON, NJ (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey's legislative session ended in tragedy when the Assembly's top Republican leader collapsed and died in the Statehouse.
Assemblyman Alex DeCroce died in a bathroom at the Statehouse around 11 p.m. Monday. He was the leader of the Republican minority in the Legislature's lower house.
Lawmakers had dealt with dozens of bills during the day.
Before learning of their colleague's death, New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill that would make it legal to bet on professional and collegiate sporting events. Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign the measure into law.
Gamblers would be able to place those bets at 11 Atlantic City casinos and the state's four horse racing tracks. Bets would not be allowed on any college sports or athletic events that take place in New Jersey or on games in which a New Jersey college team is playing.
Legislators also passed a law that would allow horse racing fans to place bets at bars and restaurants. The measure still has to overcome a hurdle in the federal government.
New Jersey's Democratic lawmakers also vowed to make gay marriage a top priority of the new session that begins at noon today. The president of the state Senate and the Assembly speaker made the announcement on Monday.
Democrats failed to advance a gay marriage bill two years ago, but say they'll have the votes this time. But Gov. Christie, a Republican, opposes gay marriage and has said he would veto the legislation.
Same sex couples in New Jersey are restricted to civil unions.
Also among those they approved were measures to give school districts the option to move board elections to November and pass some budgets without voter approval.
But some other bills were put on hold, including one to let all levels of government publish their legal notices online instead of in newspapers.
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
