Public Act 098-1011
 
HB5431 EnrolledLRB098 17942 OMW 53066 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act
is amended by adding Section 1.15 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 25/1.15 new)
    Sec. 1.15. Mandatory online concussion certification.
    (a) An association or other entity that has, as one of its
purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner
providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic
competition among schools and students within this State shall
develop an online certification for high school coaching
personnel and athletic directors in concussion awareness and
reduction of repetitive sub-concussive hits and concussions.
The certification program shall be offered free of charge to
member high schools. The program may be offered to non-member
schools or athletic organizations for a fee determined by the
association.
    (b) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 98th General Assembly, online concussion certification
is mandatory for all high school coaching personnel, including
the head and assistant coaches, and the athletic directors.
Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired before the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
Assembly shall be certified within one year after the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.
Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired on and after
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General
Assembly must be certified under this Section before the
starting date of their position.
    (c) The mandatory online certification program content
shall be updated annually, include a video, and focus on, but
not be limited to, the following topics:
        (1) concussion awareness training that includes
    general comments about the subject of concussions,
    concussion recognition, best practices for avoiding
    concussions, an athlete's removal from a game, and an
    athlete's return to play; and
        (2) repetitive sub-concussive head trauma awareness
    training that includes the potential long-term effects of
    sub-concussive head trauma and techniques to reduce its
    occurrence during practice and competitions.
    (d) To pass the concussion certification required under
this Section, coaching personnel and athletic directors shall
review the association's online material and demonstrate
proficiency on the test developed by the association. The
certification shall be renewed every 2 years.
    (e) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors
shall annually require their student athletes to watch the
video in the online concussion certification program under
subsection (c) of this Section to increase athlete awareness of
the risk of concussions and sub-concussive hits to the head.
    (f) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors
shall encourage coaches of youth sports organizations to
consider this certification.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.