Members and supporters of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois have been very active with legislative advocacy activities during the month of March. This is especially important since March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Members have called and e-mailed their Illinois state legislators to ask them to support current legislation addressing concussion education and prevention. Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) introduced House Bill 200, and Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) introduced Senate Bill 150. Both men are working hard so that the legislation passes both the House and Senate, and then on to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Thank you to all our members and supporteres who made those important calls and sent messages to their legislators. This has been a bi-partisan effort, and many legislators are in agreement that this is a vital issue that needs to be addressed.
Written testimony was provided on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois during the Senate Committee hearing. Statements were submitted by BIA of Illinois Board members Hunter Hillenmeyer and Mary Kay Reed, Honorary Board member Dr. James Young, BIA Executive Director Philicia Deckard, Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth, and Dr. Patrick Walsh of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.
On March 11th, a press conference was held by Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senator Kwame Raoul at Solder Field, along with Chicago Bears executives and players, NFL executives, and representatives from the Illinois High School Athletic Association, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Brain Injury Association of Illinois. The press release can be read below:
(Chicago - March 11, 2011) - With Soldier Field in Chicago as the backdrop today, Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) team up with 1985 Super Bowl Champs Richard Dent, Otis Wilson and Kurt Becker as well as NFL executives, the Illinois High School Association, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to push legislation through the Senate that tackles the vital issue of concussion education.
“The sports community has really stepped up to the plate to help us bring awareness to this vitally important issue of concussion education,” said Cross. “With Sen. Raoul’s help and leadership in the Senate we will make concussion education a requirement for our student athletes and their parents.”
“I truly appreciate Leader Cross’s unwavering devotion to raising the profile of concussion education,” said Raoul. “From little league football to the NFL, and all levels and types of sports, we must do what we can in state government to make sure that girls and boys, men and women better protect themselves from potentially life-altering head injuries.
The legislation aims to require all school boards, including the Chicago Board of Education, to adopt a policy regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries including:
- Requires the policy to be in compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the IHSA.
- Requires that information on the school board’s concussion and head injury policy be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a school district requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardians to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition.
- Requires the IHSA to make available to all school districts, including elementary school districts, education materials, such as visual presentations and other written materials that describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
After the bill passes the House and the Senate, it will head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Many current and former professional athletes, top NFL executives, medical professionals, high school representatives and other interested associations are supporting this effort:
"To help protect all NFL players from the dangers of brain and other injuries, I recently joined the Brain Injury Association of Illinois' Board of Directors to help extend our reach beyond the 1,800 players in NFL locker rooms. The standard set by our league inevitably affects policy at other levels. The advances in diagnosis and treatment of concussions means future generations of athletes will enjoy better long-term health and fewer short-term risks as a result. HB 200 and SB 150 are important legislation that will make the future safer for young athletes all across our state.
- - Hunter Hillenmeyer, an eight year veteran with the Chicago Bears, also served on the NFL Players Association's TBI Committee and Player Safety and Welfare Committee, Brain Injury Association of Illinois Board Member
About the Brain Injury Association of Illinois
The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.
About Me
- BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
- The Brain Injury Association of Illinois is the statewide membership organization for persons who have sustained a brain injury, their families/caregivers, professionals who work in the field of brain injury, and community residents throughout the state who work and interact with persons who have sustained a brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Illinois works with brain injury service providers throughout the state of Illinois and outside the state. Brain Injury providers and professionals refer their patients/clients to the Brain Injury Association of Illinois for resources, education and services.
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