100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2460

 

Introduced 1/30/2018, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/22-80

    Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the Illinois Elementary School Association shall approve, for coaches, game officials, and non-licensed healthcare professionals, training courses that provide for not less than 2 hours of training in the subject matter of concussions, including evaluation, prevention, symptoms, risks, and long-term effects. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
522-80 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-80)
7    Sec. 22-80. Student athletes; concussions and head
8injuries.
9    (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
10        (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
11    injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
12    sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
13    Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
14    3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
15    concussions occur in the United States each year. A
16    concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
17    body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
18    skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
19    significant when a concussion or head injury is not
20    properly evaluated and managed.
21        (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
22    range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
23    normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or

 

 

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1    unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
2    from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
3    ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
4    without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
5    concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
6        (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
7    a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
8    to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
9    recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
10    return-to-play standards for concussions and head
11    injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
12    returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
13    injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
14        (4) Student athletes who have sustained a concussion
15    may need informal or formal accommodations, modifications
16    of curriculum, and monitoring by medical or academic staff
17    until the student is fully recovered. To that end, all
18    schools are encouraged to establish a return-to-learn
19    protocol that is based on peer-reviewed scientific
20    evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and
21    Prevention guidelines and conduct baseline testing for
22    student athletes.
23    (b) In this Section:
24    "Athletic trainer" means an athletic trainer licensed
25under the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act who is
26working under the supervision of a physician.

 

 

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1    "Coach" means any volunteer or employee of a school who is
2responsible for organizing and supervising students to teach
3them or train them in the fundamental skills of an
4interscholastic athletic activity. "Coach" refers to both head
5coaches and assistant coaches.
6    "Concussion" means a complex pathophysiological process
7affecting the brain caused by a traumatic physical force or
8impact to the head or body, which may include temporary or
9prolonged altered brain function resulting in physical,
10cognitive, or emotional symptoms or altered sleep patterns and
11which may or may not involve a loss of consciousness.
12    "Department" means the Department of Financial and
13Professional Regulation.
14    "Game official" means a person who officiates at an
15interscholastic athletic activity, such as a referee or umpire,
16including, but not limited to, persons enrolled as game
17officials by the Illinois High School Association or Illinois
18Elementary School Association.
19    "Interscholastic athletic activity" means any organized
20school-sponsored or school-sanctioned activity for students,
21generally outside of school instructional hours, under the
22direction of a coach, athletic director, or band leader,
23including, but not limited to, baseball, basketball,
24cheerleading, cross country track, fencing, field hockey,
25football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, marching
26band, rugby, soccer, skating, softball, swimming and diving,

 

 

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1tennis, track (indoor and outdoor), ultimate Frisbee,
2volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. All interscholastic
3athletics are deemed to be interscholastic activities.
4    "Licensed healthcare professional" means a person who has
5experience with concussion management and who is a nurse, a
6psychologist who holds a license under the Clinical
7Psychologist Licensing Act and specializes in the practice of
8neuropsychology, a physical therapist licensed under the
9Illinois Physical Therapy Act, an occupational therapist
10licensed under the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act,
11a physician assistant, or an athletic trainer.
12    "Nurse" means a person who is employed by or volunteers at
13a school and is licensed under the Nurse Practice Act as a
14registered nurse, practical nurse, or advanced practice
15registered nurse.
16    "Physician" means a physician licensed to practice
17medicine in all of its branches under the Medical Practice Act
18of 1987.
19    "Physician assistant" means a physician assistant licensed
20under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987.
21    "School" means any public or private elementary or
22secondary school, including a charter school.
23    "Student" means an adolescent or child enrolled in a
24school.
25    (c) This Section applies to any interscholastic athletic
26activity, including practice and competition, sponsored or

 

 

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1sanctioned by a school, the Illinois Elementary School
2Association, or the Illinois High School Association. This
3Section applies beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.
4    (d) The governing body of each public or charter school and
5the appropriate administrative officer of a private school with
6students enrolled who participate in an interscholastic
7athletic activity shall appoint or approve a concussion
8oversight team. Each concussion oversight team shall establish
9a return-to-play protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific
10evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and
11Prevention guidelines, for a student's return to
12interscholastic athletics practice or competition following a
13force or impact believed to have caused a concussion. Each
14concussion oversight team shall also establish a
15return-to-learn protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific
16evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and
17Prevention guidelines, for a student's return to the classroom
18after that student is believed to have experienced a
19concussion, whether or not the concussion took place while the
20student was participating in an interscholastic athletic
21activity.
22    Each concussion oversight team must include to the extent
23practicable at least one physician. If a school employs an
24athletic trainer, the athletic trainer must be a member of the
25school concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. If
26a school employs a nurse, the nurse must be a member of the

 

 

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1school concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. At
2a minimum, a school shall appoint a person who is responsible
3for implementing and complying with the return-to-play and
4return-to-learn protocols adopted by the concussion oversight
5team. At a minimum, a concussion oversight team may be composed
6of only one person and this person need not be a licensed
7healthcare professional, but it may not be a coach. A school
8may appoint other licensed healthcare professionals to serve on
9the concussion oversight team.
10    (e) A student may not participate in an interscholastic
11athletic activity for a school year until the student and the
12student's parent or guardian or another person with legal
13authority to make medical decisions for the student have signed
14a form for that school year that acknowledges receiving and
15reading written information that explains concussion
16prevention, symptoms, treatment, and oversight and that
17includes guidelines for safely resuming participation in an
18athletic activity following a concussion. The form must be
19approved by the Illinois High School Association.
20    (f) A student must be removed from an interscholastic
21athletics practice or competition immediately if one of the
22following persons believes the student might have sustained a
23concussion during the practice or competition:
24        (1) a coach;
25        (2) a physician;
26        (3) a game official;

 

 

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1        (4) an athletic trainer;
2        (5) the student's parent or guardian or another person
3    with legal authority to make medical decisions for the
4    student;
5        (6) the student; or
6        (7) any other person deemed appropriate under the
7    school's return-to-play protocol.
8    (g) A student removed from an interscholastic athletics
9practice or competition under this Section may not be permitted
10to practice or compete again following the force or impact
11believed to have caused the concussion until:
12        (1) the student has been evaluated, using established
13    medical protocols based on peer-reviewed scientific
14    evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and
15    Prevention guidelines, by a treating physician (chosen by
16    the student or the student's parent or guardian or another
17    person with legal authority to make medical decisions for
18    the student), an athletic trainer, an advanced practice
19    registered nurse, or a physician assistant;
20        (2) the student has successfully completed each
21    requirement of the return-to-play protocol established
22    under this Section necessary for the student to return to
23    play;
24        (3) the student has successfully completed each
25    requirement of the return-to-learn protocol established
26    under this Section necessary for the student to return to

 

 

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1    learn;
2        (4) the treating physician, the athletic trainer, or
3    the physician assistant has provided a written statement
4    indicating that, in the physician's professional judgment,
5    it is safe for the student to return to play and return to
6    learn or the treating advanced practice registered nurse
7    has provided a written statement indicating that it is safe
8    for the student to return to play and return to learn; and
9        (5) the student and the student's parent or guardian or
10    another person with legal authority to make medical
11    decisions for the student:
12            (A) have acknowledged that the student has
13        completed the requirements of the return-to-play and
14        return-to-learn protocols necessary for the student to
15        return to play;
16            (B) have provided the treating physician's,
17        athletic trainer's, advanced practice registered
18        nurse's, or physician assistant's written statement
19        under subdivision (4) of this subsection (g) to the
20        person responsible for compliance with the
21        return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols under
22        this subsection (g) and the person who has supervisory
23        responsibilities under this subsection (g); and
24            (C) have signed a consent form indicating that the
25        person signing:
26                (i) has been informed concerning and consents

 

 

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1            to the student participating in returning to play
2            in accordance with the return-to-play and
3            return-to-learn protocols;
4                (ii) understands the risks associated with the
5            student returning to play and returning to learn
6            and will comply with any ongoing requirements in
7            the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols;
8            and
9                (iii) consents to the disclosure to
10            appropriate persons, consistent with the federal
11            Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
12            Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191), of the treating
13            physician's, athletic trainer's, physician
14            assistant's, or advanced practice registered
15            nurse's written statement under subdivision (4) of
16            this subsection (g) and, if any, the
17            return-to-play and return-to-learn recommendations
18            of the treating physician, the athletic trainer,
19            the physician assistant, or the advanced practice
20            registered nurse, as the case may be.
21    A coach of an interscholastic athletics team may not
22authorize a student's return to play or return to learn.
23    The district superintendent or the superintendent's
24designee in the case of a public elementary or secondary
25school, the chief school administrator or that person's
26designee in the case of a charter school, or the appropriate

 

 

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1administrative officer or that person's designee in the case of
2a private school shall supervise an athletic trainer or other
3person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play
4protocol and shall supervise the person responsible for
5compliance with the return-to-learn protocol. The person who
6has supervisory responsibilities under this paragraph may not
7be a coach of an interscholastic athletics team.
8    (h)(1) The Illinois High School Association shall approve,
9for coaches, game officials, and non-licensed healthcare
10professionals, training courses that provide for not less than
112 hours of training in the subject matter of concussions,
12including evaluation, prevention, symptoms, risks, and
13long-term effects. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year,
14the Illinois Elementary School Association shall approve, for
15coaches, game officials, and non-licensed healthcare
16professionals, training courses under this paragraph (1). Each
17Association The Association shall maintain an updated list of
18individuals and organizations authorized by the Association to
19provide the training.
20    (2) The following persons must take a training course in
21accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection (h) from an
22authorized training provider at least once every 2 years:
23        (A) a coach of an interscholastic athletic activity;
24        (B) a nurse, licensed healthcare professional, or
25    non-licensed healthcare professional who serves as a
26    member of a concussion oversight team either on a volunteer

 

 

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1    basis or in his or her capacity as an employee,
2    representative, or agent of a school; and
3        (C) a game official of an interscholastic athletic
4    activity.
5    (3) A physician who serves as a member of a concussion
6oversight team shall, to the greatest extent practicable,
7periodically take an appropriate continuing medical education
8course in the subject matter of concussions.
9    (4) For purposes of paragraph (2) of this subsection (h):
10        (A) a coach, game official, or non-licensed healthcare
11    professional, as the case may be, must take a course
12    described in paragraph (1) of this subsection (h);
13        (B) an athletic trainer must take a concussion-related
14    continuing education course from an athletic trainer
15    continuing education sponsor approved by the Department;
16        (C) a nurse must take a concussion-related continuing
17    education course from a nurse continuing education sponsor
18    approved by the Department;
19        (D) a physical therapist must take a
20    concussion-related continuing education course from a
21    physical therapist continuing education sponsor approved
22    by the Department;
23        (E) a psychologist must take a concussion-related
24    continuing education course from a psychologist continuing
25    education sponsor approved by the Department;
26        (F) an occupational therapist must take a

 

 

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1    concussion-related continuing education course from an
2    occupational therapist continuing education sponsor
3    approved by the Department; and
4        (G) a physician assistant must take a
5    concussion-related continuing education course from a
6    physician assistant continuing education sponsor approved
7    by the Department.
8    (5) Each person described in paragraph (2) of this
9subsection (h) must submit proof of timely completion of an
10approved course in compliance with paragraph (4) of this
11subsection (h) to the district superintendent or the
12superintendent's designee in the case of a public elementary or
13secondary school, the chief school administrator or that
14person's designee in the case of a charter school, or the
15appropriate administrative officer or that person's designee
16in the case of a private school.
17    (6) A physician, licensed healthcare professional, or
18non-licensed healthcare professional who is not in compliance
19with the training requirements under this subsection (h) may
20not serve on a concussion oversight team in any capacity.
21    (7) A person required under this subsection (h) to take a
22training course in the subject of concussions must complete the
23training prior to serving on a concussion oversight team in any
24capacity.
25    (i) The governing body of each public or charter school and
26the appropriate administrative officer of a private school with

 

 

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1students enrolled who participate in an interscholastic
2athletic activity shall develop a school-specific emergency
3action plan for interscholastic athletic activities to address
4the serious injuries and acute medical conditions in which the
5condition of the student may deteriorate rapidly. The plan
6shall include a delineation of roles, methods of communication,
7available emergency equipment, and access to and a plan for
8emergency transport. This emergency action plan must be:
9        (1) in writing;
10        (2) reviewed by the concussion oversight team;
11        (3) approved by the district superintendent or the
12    superintendent's designee in the case of a public
13    elementary or secondary school, the chief school
14    administrator or that person's designee in the case of a
15    charter school, or the appropriate administrative officer
16    or that person's designee in the case of a private school;
17        (4) distributed to all appropriate personnel;
18        (5) posted conspicuously at all venues utilized by the
19    school; and
20        (6) reviewed annually by all athletic trainers, first
21    responders, coaches, school nurses, athletic directors,
22    and volunteers for interscholastic athletic activities.
23    (j) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as
24necessary to administer this Section.
25(Source: P.A. 99-245, eff. 8-3-15; 99-486, eff. 11-20-15;
2699-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-309, eff. 9-1-17; 100-513, eff.

 

 

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11-1-18; revised 9-22-17.)
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.