SB3410 EngrossedLRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b

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 renumbering and
5changing Sections 10-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.54)
7    Sec. 10-20.54 10-20.53. Student athletes; concussions and
8head injuries.
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    (b) Each school board shall adopt a policy regarding
15student athlete concussions and head injuries that is in
16compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the
17Illinois High School Association, which state that any athlete
18who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a
19concussion shall be immediately removed from the contest and
20shall not return to play until cleared by a physician licensed
21to practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a
22certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a
23physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in
24this State.
25    Information on the school board's concussion and head
26injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code,

 

 

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1or other written instrument that a school district requires a
2student athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign
3before participating in practice or interscholastic
4competition.
5    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
6available to all school districts, including elementary school
7districts, education materials, such as visual presentations
8and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk
9of concussions and head injuries. Each school district shall
10use education materials provided by the Illinois High School
11Association to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents
12and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of
13concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after
14a concussion or head injury.
15(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.46)
17    Sec. 34-18.46 34-18.45. Student athletes; concussions and
18head injuries.
19    (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
20        (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
21    injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
22    sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
23    Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
24    3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
25    concussions occur in the United States each year. A

 

 

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1    concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
2    body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
3    skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
4    significant when a concussion or head injury is not
5    properly evaluated and managed.
6        (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
7    range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
8    normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or
9    unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
10    from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
11    ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
12    without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
13    concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
14        (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
15    a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
16    to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
17    recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
18    return-to-play standards for concussions and head
19    injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
20    returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
21    injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
22    (b) The board shall adopt a policy regarding student
23athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance
24with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High
25School Association, which state that any athlete who exhibits
26signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion

 

 

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1shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not
2return to play until cleared by a physician licensed to
3practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a
4certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a
5physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in
6this State.
7    Information on the board's concussion and head injury
8policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or
9other written instrument that the school district requires a
10student athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign
11before participating in practice or interscholastic
12competition.
13    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
14available to the school district education materials, such as
15visual presentations and other written materials, that
16describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
17The school district shall use education materials provided by
18the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches,
19student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes
20about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries,
21including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.
22(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)