Bill Text: IL SB0150 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Engrossed

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

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Bill Title: Creates the Protecting Our Student Athletes Act. Provides that the Act applies to all schools and park districts within this State that operate or sponsor athletic programs or extracurricular activities. Requires the State Board of Education and park districts to develop and disseminate guidelines on policies to inform and educate coaches and athletes and their parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, criteria for removal from and return to play, and the risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play. Requires each school and park district to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the guidelines, as well as the identification and handling of suspected concussions in athletes. Sets forth what the policies must require. Contains provisions concerning liability and records of compliance. Effective July 1, 2011.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [SB0150 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB0150-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning education, which may be referred to as
the Protecting Our Student Athletes Act.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 3. The Park District Code is amended by adding
Section 8-24 as follows:
(70 ILCS 1205/8-24 new)
Sec. 8-24. Concussion and head injury educational
materials. In addition to the other powers and authority now
possessed by it, any park district is authorized and encouraged
to make available to residents and users of park district
facilities, including youth athletic programs, electronically
or in written form, educational materials that describe the
nature and risk of concussion and head injuries, including the
advisability of removal of youth athletes that exhibit signs,
symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion, such as a
loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or
balance problems, from a practice or game. These educational
materials may include materials produced or distributed by the
Illinois High School Association, those produced by the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or other comparable
materials. The intent of these materials is to assist in
educating coaches, youth athletes, and parents and guardians of

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youth athletes about the nature and risks of head injuries.
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
10-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.53 new)
Sec. 10-20.53. Student athletes; concussions and head
injuries.
(a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
(1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
concussions occur in the United States each year. A
concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
significant when a concussion or head injury is not
properly evaluated and managed.
(2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or
unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or

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without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
(3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
return-to-play standards for concussions and head
injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
(b) Each school board shall adopt a policy regarding
student athlete concussions and head injuries that is in
compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the
Illinois High School Association. Information on the school
board's concussion and head injury policy must be a part of any
agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a
school district requires a student athlete and his or her
parents or guardian to sign before participating in practice or
interscholastic competition.
(c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
available to all school districts, including elementary school
districts, education materials, such as visual presentations
and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk
of concussions and head injuries. Each school district shall
use education materials provided by the Illinois High School
Association to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents

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and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of
concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after
a concussion or head injury.
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.45 new)
Sec. 34-18.45. Student athletes; concussions and head
injuries.
(a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
(1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
concussions occur in the United States each year. A
concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
significant when a concussion or head injury is not
properly evaluated and managed.
(2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or
unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of

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concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
(3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
return-to-play standards for concussions and head
injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
(b) The board shall adopt a policy regarding student
athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance
with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High
School Association. Information on the board's concussion and
head injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract,
code, or other written instrument that the school district
requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardian
to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic
competition.
(c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
available to the school district education materials, such as
visual presentations and other written materials, that
describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
The school district shall use education materials provided by
the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches,
student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes
about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries,

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including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2011.