Public Act 097-0204
 
HB0200 EnrolledLRB097 00089 NHT 40097 b


  
    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  

 
    Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Protecting 
Our Student Athletes Act.
 
    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 
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 
    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 
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 
    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, 
including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.

 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
2011.