SB 150 — PROTECTING STUDENT ATHLETES

*LRB09705416NHT45474b* SB0150 97THEngrossed GENERALLRB097 ASSEMBLY05416 StateNHT of45474 Illinoisb andAN 2012ACT SB0150concerning Introducededucation, 1/27/2011,which bymay Sen.be referred to as the Protecting Our Student Athletes Act.

Kwame Raoul SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act 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.

LRB097 05416 NHT 45474 b FISCAL NOTE ACT STATE MANDATES MAY APPLY ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT A BILL FOR SB0150 LRB097 05416 NHT 45474 b AN ACT concerning student athletes.

Section 1.3.

ShortThe title.Park District Code is amended by adding Section 8-24 as follows:

This(70 ActILCS may1205/8-24 benew) citedSec. as the Protecting Our Student Athletes Act.

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 SB0150 Engrossed - 2 - LRB097 05416 NHT 45474 b youth athletes about the nature and risks of head injuries.

LegislativeThe findings;School Code is amended by adding Sections 10-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:

recognition.(105 ILCS 5/10-20.53 new) Sec.

(a)10-20.53. The General Assembly makes the following findings:

(1)Student Aathletes; concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move inside of the skull.

(2)concussions Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescentshead participatinginjuries. in sports and recreational activities.

(3)(a) ConcussionsThe areGeneral aAssembly typerecognizes all of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the wayfollowing: the brain normally works.

(4)(1) TheConcussions U.S.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 nearlyas 4many millionas sports3,900,000 sports-related and recreational-relatedrecreation-related concussions occur annually in the United States.States each year.

(5)A Studiesconcussion showis thatcaused continuingby to play with a concussionblow or symptomsmotion ofto athe head injuryor leavesbody athat youngcauses athletethe especiallybrain vulnerable to greatermove injuryrapidly andinside death.the skull.

SB0150The -risk 2of -catastrophic LRB097injuries 05416or NHTdeath 45474are bsignificant (6)when Studiesa alsoconcussion showor thathead young,injury developingis brainsnot takeproperly longerevaluated toand heal,managed. requiring that treatment be tailored to specific ages.

(7)(2) TheConcussions risksare a type of catastrophicbrain injuriesinjury orthat deathcan arerange significantfrom whenmild ato concussionsevere orand headcan injurydisrupt isthe notway properlythe evaluatedbrain andnormally managed.works.

(8)Concussions Continuingcan tooccur playin withany aorganized concussionor unorganized sport or symptomsrecreational ofactivity aand headcan injuryresult leavesfrom thea youngfall athleteor especiallyfrom vulnerableplayers tocolliding greaterwith injuryeach andother, eventhe death.ground, or with obstacles.

(b)Concussions Theoccur Generalwith Assemblyor recognizesSB0150 that,Engrossed despite- having3 generally- recognizedLRB097 standards05416 regardingNHT returning45474 tob playwithout fromloss aof concussionconsciousness, orbut headthe injury,vast somemajority affectedof studentconcussions athletesoccur maywithout prematurelyloss returnof toconsciousness. play, thus exposing themselves to further risk.

Section(3) 10.Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death.

Definitions.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.

In(b) thisEach Act: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.

"Athlete"Information meanson the school board's concussion and head injury policy must be a studentpart orof youth,any maleagreement, contract, code, or female,other written instrument that participatesa inschool andistrict athleticrequires program,a event,student orathlete extracurricularand activityhis operatedor her parents or sponsoredguardian byto asign schoolbefore participating in practice or parkinterscholastic district.competition.

"Department"(c) meansThe 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 Departmentnature and risk of Publicconcussions Health.and head injuries.

"ParkEach district"school hasdistrict shall use education materials provided by the meaningIllinois ascribedHigh School Association to thateducate termcoaches, understudent Sectionathletes, 1-3and parents SB0150 Engrossed - 4 - LRB097 05416 NHT 45474 b and guardians of student athletes about the Parknature Districtand Code.risk of concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.

"School"(105 meansILCS any5/34-18.45 schoolnew) districtSec. or public, private, or nonpublic day or residential educational institution that provides elementary or secondary education for grades 12 and under.

SB015034-18.45. - 3 - LRB097 05416 NHT 45474 b "State Board" means the State Board of Education.