HB5431 EngrossedLRB098 17942 OMW 53066 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 Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act
5is amended by adding Section 1.15 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 25/1.15 new)
7    Sec. 1.15. Mandatory online concussion certification.
8    (a) An association or other entity that has, as one of its
9purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner
10providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic
11competition among schools and students within this State shall
12develop an online certification for high school coaching
13personnel and athletic directors in concussion awareness and
14reduction of repetitive sub-concussive hits and concussions.
15The certification program shall be offered free of charge to
16member high schools. The program may be offered to non-member
17schools or athletic organizations for a fee determined by the
18association.
19    (b) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act
20of the 98th General Assembly, online concussion certification
21is mandatory for all high school coaching personnel, including
22the head and assistant coaches, and the athletic directors.
23Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired before the

 

 

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1effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
2Assembly shall be certified within one year after the effective
3date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.
4Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired on and after
5the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
6Assembly must be certified under this Section before the
7starting date of their position.
8    (c) The mandatory online certification program content
9shall be updated annually, include a video, and focus on, but
10not be limited to, the following topics:
11        (1) concussion awareness training that includes
12    general comments about the subject of concussions,
13    concussion recognition, best practices for avoiding
14    concussions, an athlete's removal from a game, and an
15    athlete's return to play; and
16        (2) repetitive sub-concussive head trauma awareness
17    training that includes the potential long-term effects of
18    sub-concussive head trauma and techniques to reduce its
19    occurrence during practice and competitions.
20    (d) To pass the concussion certification required under
21this Section, coaching personnel and athletic directors shall
22review the association's online material and demonstrate
23proficiency on the test developed by the association. The
24certification shall be renewed every 2 years.
25    (e) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors
26shall annually require their student athletes to watch the

 

 

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1video in the online concussion certification program under
2subsection (c) of this Section to increase athlete awareness of
3the risk of concussions and sub-concussive hits to the head.
4    (f) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors
5shall encourage coaches of youth sports organizations to
6consider this certification.
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.