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| Public Act 098-1011 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act | ||||
is amended by adding Section 1.15 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 25/1.15 new) | ||||
Sec. 1.15. Mandatory online concussion certification. | ||||
(a) An association or other entity that has, as one of its | ||||
purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner | ||||
providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic | ||||
competition among schools and students within this State shall | ||||
develop an online certification for high school coaching | ||||
personnel and athletic directors in concussion awareness and | ||||
reduction of repetitive sub-concussive hits and concussions. | ||||
The certification program shall be offered free of charge to | ||||
member high schools. The program may be offered to non-member | ||||
schools or athletic organizations for a fee determined by the | ||||
association. | ||||
(b) On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||
of the 98th General Assembly, online concussion certification | ||||
is mandatory for all high school coaching personnel, including | ||||
the head and assistant coaches, and the athletic directors. | ||||
Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired before the | ||||
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General | ||
Assembly shall be certified within one year after the effective | ||
date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. | ||
Coaching personnel and athletic directors hired on and after | ||
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General | ||
Assembly must be certified under this Section before the | ||
starting date of their position. | ||
(c) The mandatory online certification program content | ||
shall be updated annually, include a video, and focus on, but | ||
not be limited to, the following topics: | ||
(1) concussion awareness training that includes | ||
general comments about the subject of concussions, | ||
concussion recognition, best practices for avoiding | ||
concussions, an athlete's removal from a game, and an | ||
athlete's return to play; and | ||
(2) repetitive sub-concussive head trauma awareness | ||
training that includes the potential long-term effects of | ||
sub-concussive head trauma and techniques to reduce its | ||
occurrence during practice and competitions. | ||
(d) To pass the concussion certification required under | ||
this Section, coaching personnel and athletic directors shall | ||
review the association's online material and demonstrate | ||
proficiency on the test developed by the association. The | ||
certification shall be renewed every 2 years. | ||
(e) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors | ||
shall annually require their student athletes to watch the | ||
video in the online concussion certification program under | ||
subsection (c) of this Section to increase athlete awareness of | ||
the risk of concussions and sub-concussive hits to the head. | ||
(f) High school coaching personnel and athletic directors | ||
shall encourage coaches of youth sports organizations to | ||
consider this certification.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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