Bill Text: IL HB1225 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: 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. Effective 60 days after becoming law.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-08-12 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0305 [HB1225 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HB1225-Introduced.html

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98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2013 and 2014 HB1225 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel J. Burke 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. Effective 60 days after becoming law.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
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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.

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"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

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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

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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

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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.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect 60 days
after becoming law.