98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB1205

 

Introduced , by Rep. Carol A. Sente

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-20.54
105 ILCS 5/34-18.46

    Amends the School Code. In provisions regarding student athletes and concussions and head injuries, requires a school board to adopt a policy limiting tackling in football practice to once a week. Effective immediately.


LRB098 06276 NHT 36317 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1205LRB098 06276 NHT 36317 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 changing Sections
510-20.54 and 34-18.46 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.54)
7    Sec. 10-20.54. 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    (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. Information on the school
18board's concussion and head injury policy must be a part of any
19agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a
20school district requires a student athlete and his or her
21parents or guardian to sign before participating in practice or
22interscholastic competition.
23    Each school board shall adopt a policy limiting tackling in
24football practice to once a week.
25    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
26available to all school districts, including elementary school

 

 

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1districts, education materials, such as visual presentations
2and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk
3of concussions and head injuries. Each school district shall
4use education materials provided by the Illinois High School
5Association to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents
6and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of
7concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after
8a concussion or head injury.
9(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
 
10    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.46)
11    Sec. 34-18.46. Student athletes; concussions and head
12injuries.
13    (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
14        (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
15    injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
16    sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
17    Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
18    3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
19    concussions occur in the United States each year. A
20    concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
21    body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
22    skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
23    significant when a concussion or head injury is not
24    properly evaluated and managed.
25        (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can

 

 

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1    range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
2    normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or
3    unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
4    from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
5    ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
6    without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
7    concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
8        (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
9    a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
10    to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
11    recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
12    return-to-play standards for concussions and head
13    injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
14    returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
15    injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
16    (b) The board shall adopt a policy regarding student
17athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance
18with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High
19School Association. Information on the board's concussion and
20head injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract,
21code, or other written instrument that the school district
22requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardian
23to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic
24competition.
25    The board shall adopt a policy limiting tackling in
26football practice to once a week.

 

 

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1    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
2available to the school district education materials, such as
3visual presentations and other written materials, that
4describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
5The school district shall use education materials provided by
6the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches,
7student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes
8about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries,
9including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.
10(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.