Bill Text: IL SB3410 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board's concussion and head injury policy must require that a student athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game be removed from play at that time. Requires the policy to provide that a student athlete who has been removed from play may not return to play until the student athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries and the student athlete receives written clearance to return to play from that health care provider. Makes technical changes having a revisory function.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-01-08 - Session Sine Die [SB3410 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SB3410-Engrossed.html

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SB3410 Engrossed LRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by renumbering and
changing Sections 10-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.54)
Sec. 10-20.54 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

SB3410 Engrossed - 2 - LRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b
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, which state that any athlete
who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a
concussion shall be immediately removed from the contest and
shall not return to play until cleared by a physician licensed
to practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a
certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a
physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in
this State.
Information on the school board's concussion and head
injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code,

SB3410 Engrossed - 3 - LRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b
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.
(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.46)
Sec. 34-18.46 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

SB3410 Engrossed - 4 - LRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b
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, which state that any athlete who exhibits
signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion

SB3410 Engrossed - 5 - LRB097 19911 NHT 65201 b
shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not
return to play until cleared by a physician licensed to
practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a
certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a
physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in
this State.
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.
(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)