Responding to an NCAA probe of the...

Responding to an NCAA probe of the University of Illinois basketball program, an Illinois legislative committee approved a bill regulating college athletic associations’ investigations of suspected wrongdoing in sports programs.

The measure, approved 12-0 by the House Judiciary Committee, would require athletic associations to notify members under investigation of the evidence against them and speed up the hearing process.

The NCAA has been investigating possible irregularities in the recruitment of University of Illinois freshman forward Deon Thomas, one of the nation’s top prep prospects last year.

University of Iowa basketball Coach Bruce Pearl has given the NCAA a tape recording of a telephone conversation in which Thomas reportedly said he received $80,000 and a car for attending Illinois.