Sen. Ira I. Silverstein
Filed: 2/27/2012
 
 


 




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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3410 




2 AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3410 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:


4 "Section 5. The School Code is amended by renumbering and 
5changing Sections 10-20.53 and 34-18.45 as follows:

6 (105 ILCS 5/10-20.54)
7 Sec. 10-20.54 10-20.53. Student athletes; concussions and 
8head injuries.
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 
 
 
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1 body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the 
2 skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are 
3 significant when a concussion or head injury is not 
4 properly evaluated and managed.
5  (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can 
6 range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain 
7 normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or 
8 unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result 
9 from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the 
10 ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or 
11 without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of 
12 concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
13  (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of 
14 a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable 
15 to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly 
16 recognizes that, despite having generally recognized 
17 return-to-play standards for concussions and head 
18 injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely 
19 returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical 
20 injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
21 (b) Each school board shall adopt a policy regarding 
22student athlete concussions and head injuries that is in 
23compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the 
24Illinois High School Association, which state that any athlete 
25who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a 
26concussion shall be immediately removed from the contest and 
 
 
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1shall not return to play until cleared by a physician licensed 
2to practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a 
3certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a 
4physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in 
5this State. 
6 Information on the school board's concussion and head 
7injury policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code, 
8or other written instrument that a school district requires a 
9student athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign 
10before participating in practice or interscholastic 
11competition.
12 (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make 
13available to all school districts, including elementary school 
14districts, education materials, such as visual presentations 
15and other written materials, that describe the nature and risk 
16of concussions and head injuries. Each school district shall 
17use education materials provided by the Illinois High School 
18Association to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents 
19and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of 
20concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after 
21a concussion or head injury.

22(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)

23 (105 ILCS 5/34-18.46)
24 Sec. 34-18.46 34-18.45. Student athletes; concussions and 
25head injuries.
 
 
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1 (a) The General Assembly recognizes all of the following:
2  (1) Concussions are one of the most commonly reported 
3 injuries in children and adolescents who participate in 
4 sports and recreational activities. The Centers for 
5 Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 
6 3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related 
7 concussions occur in the United States each year. A 
8 concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or 
9 body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the 
10 skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are 
11 significant when a concussion or head injury is not 
12 properly evaluated and managed.
13  (2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can 
14 range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain 
15 normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or 
16 unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result 
17 from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the 
18 ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or 
19 without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority of 
20 concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
21  (3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of 
22 a head injury leaves a young athlete especially vulnerable 
23 to greater injury and even death. The General Assembly 
24 recognizes that, despite having generally recognized 
25 return-to-play standards for concussions and head 
26 injuries, some affected youth athletes are prematurely 
 
 
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1 returned to play, resulting in actual or potential physical 
2 injury or death to youth athletes in this State.
3 (b) The board shall adopt a policy regarding student 
4athlete concussions and head injuries that is in compliance 
5with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High 
6School Association, which state that any athlete who exhibits 
7signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion 
8shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not 
9return to play until cleared by a physician licensed to 
10practice medicine in all its branches in this State or a 
11certified athletic trainer working in conjunction with a 
12physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in 
13this State. 
14 Information on the board's concussion and head injury 
15policy must be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or 
16other written instrument that the school district requires a 
17student athlete and his or her parents or guardian to sign 
18before participating in practice or interscholastic 
19competition.
20 (c) The Illinois High School Association shall make 
21available to the school district education materials, such as 
22visual presentations and other written materials, that 
23describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries. 
24The school district shall use education materials provided by 
25the Illinois High School Association to educate coaches, 
26student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes 
 
 
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1about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, 
2including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.

3(Source: P.A. 97-204, eff. 7-28-11; revised 10-7-11.)".