HB0200 EngrossedLRB097 00089 NHT 40097 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
510-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.53 new)
7    Sec. 10-20.53. Student athletes; concussions and head
8injuries:
9    (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
10        (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
11    injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
12    sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
13    Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
14    3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
15    concussions occur in the United States each year. A
16    concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
17    body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
18    skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
19    significant when a concussion or head injury is not
20    properly evaluated and managed.
21        (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
22    range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
23    normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or

 

 

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1    unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result
2    from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
3    ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
4    without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
5    concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
6        (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
7    a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
8    to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
9    recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
10    return-to-play standards for concussions and head
11    injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
12    returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
13    injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
14    (b) Each school board shall adopt a policy regarding
15student athlete concussions and head injuries that is in
16compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the
17Illinois High School Association. Information on the school
18board's concussion and head injury policy must be a part of any
19agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a
20school district requires a student athlete and his or her
21parents or guardian to sign before participating in practice or
22interscholastic competition.
23    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
24available to all school districts, including elementary school
25districts, education materials, such as visual presentations
26and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk

 

 

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1of concussions and head injuries. Each school district shall
2use education materials provided by the Illinois High School
3Association to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents
4and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of
5concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after
6a concussion or head injury.
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.45 new)
8    Sec. 34-18.45. Student athletes; concussions and head
9injuries.
10    (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
11        (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported
12    injuries in children and adolescents who participate in
13    sports and recreational activities. The Centers for
14    Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as
15    3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related
16    concussions occur in the United States each year. A
17    concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or
18    body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
19    skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are
20    significant when a concussion or head injury is not
21    properly evaluated and managed.
22        (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can
23    range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain
24    normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or
25    unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result

 

 

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1    from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
2    ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or
3    without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of
4    concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
5        (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of
6    a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable
7    to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly
8    recognizes that, despite having generally recognized
9    return-to-play standards for concussions and head
10    injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely
11    returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical
12    injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
13    (b) The board shall adopt a policy regarding student
14athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance
15with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High
16School Association. Information on the board's concussion and
17head injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract,
18code, or other written instrument that the school district
19requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardian
20to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic
21competition.
22    (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make
23available to the school district education materials, such as
24visual presentations and other written materials, that
25describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
26The school district shall use education materials provided by

 

 

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1the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches,
2student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes
3about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries,
4including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.