SB1274 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 08514 NHT 38625 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB1274

Introduced 1/31/2013, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act. Provides that the Act applies to public schools, school districts, and recognized nonpublic schools. Requires the Department of Public Health and the State Board of Education to develop and post on their publicly accessible Internet websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. Sets forth provisions concerning a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet, informational meetings regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, and a sudden cardiac arrest training course. Provides that (i) a student who exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic activity must be removed by the team's head coach from participation at that time, (ii) if a student is known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at any time prior to or following an athletic activity, the team's head coach shall prevent the student from participating in an athletic activity, and (iii) a student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity shall not return to participation until the student is evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, certified nurse practitioner, or cardiologist; sets forth penalties. Contains provisions concerning other youth athletic activities, construction of the Act, and agency rules.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.

Section 5. Definitions. The following words and phrases when used in this Act shall have the meanings given to them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Athletic activity" means all of the following:

(1) Interscholastic athletics.

(2) An athletic contest or competition, other than interscholastic athletics, that is sponsored by or associated with a school entity, including cheerleading, club-sponsored sports activities, and sports activities sponsored by school-affiliated organizations.

(3) Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or associated with a school entity.

(4) Practices, interschool practices, and scrimmages for all of the activities listed under items (1), (2), and (3) of this definition.

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Interscholastic athletics" means all athletic contests or competitions conducted between or among school entities.

"School entity" means a public school, school district, or nonpublic school recognized by the State Board of Education.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

Section 10. Sudden cardiac arrest.

(a) The Department and the State Board shall develop and post on their publicly accessible Internet websites guidelines and other relevant materials, including without limitation a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet, to inform and educate students participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing one or more symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, including fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness, and abnormal racing heart rate.

In developing the guidelines and materials, the Department and the State Board may utilize existing materials developed by organizations such as Parent Heart Watch and Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes.

A student participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity and the student's parent or guardian shall, each school year and prior to participation by the student in an athletic activity, sign and return to the student's school an acknowledgment of receipt and review of a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet developed under this subsection (a).

(b) A school entity may hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for all ages of competitors regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. In addition to students, parents, coaches, and other school officials, informational meetings may include physicians licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, pediatric cardiologists, and athletic trainers.

(c) A student who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student's team, certified athletic trainer, physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, or other official designated by the student's school entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic activity must be removed by the team's head coach from participation at that time, subject to this subsection (c).

If a student is known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at any time prior to or following an athletic activity, the team's head coach shall prevent the student from participating in an athletic activity, subject to this subsection (c).

A student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity under this subsection (c) shall not return to participation until the student is evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, certified nurse practitioner, or cardiologist. In order to help determine whether a student is ready to return to play, the physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, certified nurse practitioner, or cardiologist may consult any other licensed or certified medical professionals.

(d) Once each school year, a coach of an athletic activity shall complete a sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a provider approved by the Department. A coach of an athletic activity shall not coach the athletic activity until the coach completes the training course required under this subsection (d).

(e) The governing body of a school entity shall establish the following minimum penalties for a coach found in violation of subsection (c) of this Section, which penalties shall apply 2 years following the effective date of this Act:

(1) For a first violation, suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season.

(2) For a second violation, suspension from coaching any athletic activity for the remainder of the season and for the next season.

(3) For a third violation, permanent suspension from coaching any athletic activity.

Section 15. Other youth athletic activities. The sponsors of youth athletic activities not associated with a school entity are encouraged to follow this Act.

Section 80. Construction. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to do the following:

(1) abridge or limit any rights provided under a collective bargaining agreement in effect on the effective date of this Act or any rights provided under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act; or

(2) create, establish, expand, reduce, contract, or eliminate any civil liability on the part of any school entity or school employee.

Section 85. Rules. The Department and the State Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act.