HB4341 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 17054 AXK 32205 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4341

Introduced , by Rep. Carol Sente

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the CTE Prevention Act. Defines terms. Provides that a child under the age of 12 may not participate in tackle football offered by an organized youth sports program. Provides that a child under the age of 12 may participate in all other athletic activities offered by an organized youth sports program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

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

Section 1. Short title; references to Act.

(a) Short title. This Act may be cited as the CTE Prevention Act.

(b) References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE.

Section 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds that the best available evidence tells us that Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is caused by repetitive hits to the head sustained over a period of years and cite sub-concussive impacts as an important factor. The General Assembly also finds that athletes who begin playing contact sports at younger ages are at greater risk for neurological impairment later in life and recognizes that several published studies show that exposure to tackle football before the age of 12 is associated with a greater risk of neurological impairment than exposure to tackle football starting at or after the age of 12.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Organized youth sports program" means any organized intramural athletic activity program, interscholastic athletic activity program, or physical education program developed and offered to children or students in this State through an organized entity, including, but not limited to, a public or private elementary or secondary school, charter school, park district, athletic association, or other for-profit or nonprofit entity.

"Tackle football" means any practice or game of American football where physical contact is used to force opposing players to the ground.

Section 15. Children under 12; tackle football. A child under the age of 12 may not participate in tackle football offered by an organized youth sports program. A child under the age of 12 may participate in all other athletic activities offered by an organized youth sports program, including, but not limited to, touch football or flag football.