Illinois bill would create prep sports concussion oversight

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois state senator has introduced legislation that would establish teams of medical professionals at high schools throughout the state to deal with sports concussions.

According The (Springfield) State Journal-Register (http://bit.ly/1A6tJKU ), state Sen. Dan Kotowski's bill would cover all high school sports and require that doctors and not coaches decide when student athletes can return to games. The bill would also require parents or guardians to sign consent forms after their children are treated by doctors.

Under the bill, each school would have to establish concussion oversight teams made up a doctor, nurse, athletic trainer and other medical professionals, and require the teams to create a return-to-play protocol.

Kotowski said concussions are a major concern of families, school districts and coaches.

"I want to make sure the kids participate and enjoy the opportunity to play the game but also that they're healthy and safe," he said.

The Park Ridge Democrat said he filed the bill out of concern that injured students are returning to games too soon.

But Kurt Gibson, associate director of the Illinois High School Association, said much of what is included in the bill is already IHSA policy.

"The way it is currently written, we're not seeing much difference as it relates to concussion and return-to-play, how it's much different than what we have now," he said.

Gibson did say, however, that he was in favor of a number of provisions in the bill, including the requirement that emergency action plans be established, posted and rehearsed on a regular basis.