Public Act 096-0128
 
SB1665 Enrolled LRB096 11074 NHT 21398 b

    AN ACT concerning education, which may be referred to as
Brandon's Law.
 
    WHEREAS, Testicular cancer is the most common form of
cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35; and
 
    WHEREAS, Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure
rates of all cancers, but early detection is extremely
important; and
 
    WHEREAS, Symptoms of testicular cancer include a lump or
enlargement of a testicle, a dull ache in the abdomen or groin,
and pain or discomfort of the scrotum; family history of
testicular cancer, inguinal hernias, and presence of descended
testicles present risk factors; and
 
    WHEREAS, Teenagers who are going through a multitude of
physical and emotional changes may be less likely to recognize
the symptoms of testicular cancer or tell a parent or doctor if
they suspect a problem; therefore
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive
Health Education Act is amended by changing Section 3 as
follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 110/3)  (from Ch. 122, par. 863)
    Sec. 3. Comprehensive Health Education Program. The
program established under this Act shall include, but not be
limited to, the following major educational areas as a basis
for curricula in all elementary and secondary schools in this
State: human ecology and health, human growth and development,
the emotional, psychological, physiological, hygienic and
social responsibilities of family life, including sexual
abstinence until marriage, prevention and control of disease,
including instruction in grades 6 through 12 on the prevention,
transmission and spread of AIDS, sexual assault awareness in
secondary schools, public and environmental health, consumer
health, safety education and disaster survival, mental health
and illness, personal health habits, alcohol, drug use, and
abuse including the medical and legal ramifications of alcohol,
drug, and tobacco use, abuse during pregnancy, sexual
abstinence until marriage, tobacco, nutrition, and dental
health. The program shall also provide course material and
instruction to advise pupils of the Abandoned Newborn Infant
Protection Act. The program shall include information about
cancer, including without limitation types of cancer, signs and
symptoms, risk factors, the importance of early prevention and
detection, and information on where to go for help.
Notwithstanding the above educational areas, the following
areas may also be included as a basis for curricula in all
elementary and secondary schools in this State: basic first aid
(including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and the Heimlich maneuver), early prevention and detection of
cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and the prevention of
child abuse, neglect, and suicide.
    The school board of each public elementary and secondary
school in the State shall encourage all teachers and other
school personnel to acquire, develop, and maintain the
knowledge and skills necessary to properly administer
life-saving techniques, including without limitation the
Heimlich maneuver and rescue breathing. The training shall be
in accordance with standards of the American Red Cross, the
American Heart Association, or another nationally recognized
certifying organization. A school board may use the services of
non-governmental entities whose personnel have expertise in
life-saving techniques to instruct teachers and other school
personnel in these techniques. Each school board is encouraged
to have in its employ, or on its volunteer staff, at least one
person who is certified, by the American Red Cross or by
another qualified certifying agency, as qualified to
administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In
addition, each school board is authorized to allocate
appropriate portions of its institute or inservice days to
conduct training programs for teachers and other school
personnel who have expressed an interest in becoming qualified
to administer emergency first aid or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. School boards are urged to encourage their
teachers and other school personnel who coach school athletic
programs and other extracurricular school activities to
acquire, develop, and maintain the knowledge and skills
necessary to properly administer first aid and cardiopulmonary
resuscitation in accordance with standards and requirements
established by the American Red Cross or another qualified
certifying agency. Subject to appropriation, the State Board of
Education shall establish and administer a matching grant
program to pay for half of the cost that a school district
incurs in training those teachers and other school personnel
who express an interest in becoming qualified to administer
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (which training must be in
accordance with standards of the American Red Cross, the
American Heart Association, or another nationally recognized
certifying organization) or in learning how to use an automated
external defibrillator. A school district that applies for a
grant must demonstrate that it has funds to pay half of the
cost of the training for which matching grant money is sought.
The State Board of Education shall award the grants on a
first-come, first-serve basis.
    No pupil shall be required to take or participate in any
class or course on AIDS or family life instruction if his
parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and
refusal to take or participate in the course or program shall
not be reason for suspension or expulsion of the pupil.
    Curricula developed under programs established in
accordance with this Act in the major educational area of
alcohol and drug use and abuse shall include classroom
instruction in grades 5 through 12. The instruction, which
shall include matters relating to both the physical and legal
effects and ramifications of drug and substance abuse, shall be
integrated into existing curricula; and the State Board of
Education shall develop and make available to all elementary
and secondary schools in this State instructional materials and
guidelines which will assist the schools in incorporating the
instruction into their existing curricula. In addition, school
districts may offer, as part of existing curricula during the
school day or as part of an after school program, support
services and instruction for pupils or pupils whose parent,
parents, or guardians are chemically dependent.
(Source: P.A. 94-933, eff. 6-26-06; 95-43, eff. 1-1-08; 95-764,
eff. 1-1-09; revised 9-5-08.)
 
    Section 10. The Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act
is amended by adding Section 1.5 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 25/1.5 new)
    Sec. 1.5. Cancer screening. An association or other entity
that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring,
regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic
athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and
students within this State shall include a question asking
whether a student has a family history of cancer on any
pre-participation examination form given to students
participating or seeking to participate in interscholastic
athletics. The association or entity may require that a
testicular examination be conducted as a part of any physical
required for a male student's participation in interscholastic
athletics.