UPDATED: 15:20, see below…

Yesterday Illinois Gov. Rauner signed  SB0007 into law making it Public Act 099-0245 effectively titled Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act bringing a much more robust set of standards when dealing with concussions in Illinois.

The bill/law is basically an extension of the IHSA Policies regarding concussions plus some strengthening for player/participant safety.

Most notably this law now pertains to all sports, not just limited to the high school sports.

There will be more to follow on this as I get more time to delve into the entire bill.

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I have read the bill a few times and here are the other important takeaways from this bill:

• Any Park District and Youth Sports program must make available concussion information
• Returning from a concussion in youth sports programs or other organized sports (see club sports) must go through same steps as the IHSA/IESA standards
• All schools under the State Board of Education must have the following:
  • A concussion oversight team that includes the following:
    • at least one physician
    • if school employs athletic trainer they must be included
    • if school employs nurse they must be included
    • administrator of protocol (essentially someone in charge of paperwork and policies)
    • if wanted any other healthcare provider as outlined in bill (MD/DO, PT, OT, ATC, RN, PsyD)
  • A concussion return-to-play protocol
  • A concussion return-to-learn protocol
  • All members of the concussion oversight team, coaches and officials must have no less than two hours of continuing education, from respective and approved providers, on concussion every two years.
• If suspected of a concussion and pulled from game or practice the injured must meet minimum requirements to return to play and can only be signed off by a physician or athletic trainer working under a physicians license/direction.
  • If concussed the injured MUST go through the RTP protocol as set forth by each school and the RTP must be approved by the IHSA

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