IL HB0015

Establishes a 3-year pilot program requiring electrocardiogram (EKG) tests as part of health examinations for student athletes in Chicago School District 299, with parents or guardians responsible for costs.

Requires the Department of Public Health and State Board of Education to develop and post online guidelines about sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs for students, parents, and coaches, including fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, and abnormal heart rate.

Mandates that coaches remove from participation any student showing signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest during athletic activity, and prevents students with known symptoms from participating until cleared in writing by a physician, certified nurse practitioner, or cardiologist.

Requires all coaches of public school athletic activities to complete a Department-approved sudden cardiac arrest training course annually before coaching, with penalties for violations including suspension from coaching for the remainder of the season (first offense), suspension through the next season (second offense), or permanent suspension (third offense).

Encourages youth athletic activity sponsors not associated with public schools to follow the same guidance and protects existing collective bargaining agreements and civil liability provisions.