102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2923

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 25/1.25 new

    Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, notwithstanding the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, after a period of 60 days from the initiation of a disaster proclamation declaring a public health emergency, no proclamations or executive orders may be given effect by a scholastic association, athletic association, or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or activities or any form of athletic competition or activity among schools and students within this State when setting interscholastic sports schedules or activities, unless the governing body for the interscholastic activity consents to the modifications or the governing body for the interscholastic activity makes specified findings relating to the participation of students. Makes changes concerning additional conditions for student participation, reporting to the Department of Public Health, and liability. Effective immediately.


LRB102 14866 NHT 20219 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2923LRB102 14866 NHT 20219 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act
5is amended by adding Section 1.25 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 25/1.25 new)
7    Sec. 1.25. Public health emergency.
8    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of Section 7 of the
9Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, after a period of 60
10days from the initiation of a disaster proclamation declaring
11a public health emergency, no proclamations or executive
12orders may be given effect by a scholastic association,
13athletic association, or other entity that has as one of its
14purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner
15providing for interscholastic athletics or activities or any
16form of athletic competition or activity among schools and
17students within this State when setting interscholastic sports
18schedules or activities, unless:
19        (1) the governing body for the interscholastic
20    activity consents to the modifications; or
21        (2) the governing body for the interscholastic
22    activity makes the following findings:
23            (A) participation by students in the

 

 

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1        interscholastic activity can be accomplished with
2        appropriate risk management protocols, including
3        through compliance with recommendations made to the
4        governing body by independent public health experts,
5        as published in peer-reviewed medical literature, or
6        in accordance with any other State or federal
7        standards or guidelines; and
8            (B) either (i) students prevented from
9        participating will be at a comparative disadvantage
10        relative to students in other states when seeking
11        scholastic and athletic opportunities in higher
12        education, including, but not limited to, college
13        athletic scholarships, academic scholarships, or
14        dramatic or performing arts portfolio presentations,
15        or (ii) the interscholastic activity will provide
16        student health benefits that mitigate the risk of
17        detrimental effects under the proclamation or
18        executive order, including, but not limited to,
19        physical and mental health effects.
20    (b) The governing body for the interscholastic activity
21may impose additional conditions for student participation
22under this Section, including, but not limited to, health and
23temperature checks and pre-activity and post-activity
24quarantines. In setting such conditions, the governing body
25shall consider questions of equity so that students from
26disadvantaged backgrounds are not unduly burdened by

 

 

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1additional requirements.
2    (c) The governing body for the interscholastic activity
3shall have the responsibility for ensuring accurate reporting
4of any infectious disease state to the Department of Public
5Health.
6    (d) A school district, school board member, school
7administrator, faculty member, staff, coach, or parent
8volunteer who oversees students participating in an
9interscholastic activity under this Section shall incur no
10liability associated with student participation in the
11interscholastic activity, except for willful or wanton conduct
12in disregarding the standards set by the governing body for
13the interscholastic activity.
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.