The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met at its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, August 26, 2013, where the Board approved a policy to ensure compliance by member schools with a new law.
On Sunday, August 4, Governor Pat Quinn signed the "Rocky Clark" Catastrophic Insurance legislation bill (SB2178) into law. The new law requires that every high school in the state of Illinois obtain catastrophic accident medical insurance for its student-athletes with a minimum of $3,000,000 million dollars of coverage over a five-year benefit period. The legislation also requires the IHSA to offer a group plan for its member schools, although schools are not required to use the IHSA’s plan.
“Given the IHSA’s obligations within this legislation, the decision to establish a policy to certify compliance seemed like a natural next step, ” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Having schools certify that they are in compliance with this law provides assurance that the student-athletes are protected as required by the law.”
The IHSA has and will continue to provide catastrophic insurance for all student-athletes competing in IHSA postseason State Series events. Prior to the new law, catastrophic insurance coverage during regular-season events for student-athletes was dependent upon the high school or individual families.
The IHSA made its group plan insurance available to its member schools in mid-August.
ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to set an entry deadline date of December 15, 2013, for Boys and Girls Lacrosse. If there are 65 schools entered in the Boys Lacrosse State Series and 40 schools entered in the Girls Lacrosse State Series on December 15, 2013, the IHSA Board will move forward with implementing a plan to assure the team participation numbers will be met during the spring.
2. The Board approved a recommendation to update the Document Retention Policy.
3. The Board approved a recommendation to approve the IHSA Personnel Policies for the
2013-14 school year.
ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Elgin (Westminster Christian). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA by-laws 3.043 and 3.047.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Grayslake (North). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA by-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Elmhurst (IC Catholic). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA by-law 3.040.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the August 26, 2013, agenda:
1. The Board heard a report from Assistant Executive Director Craig Anderson on the 14th annual IHSA Officials Conference, which was held in Peoria on July 20-21.
2. The Board heard a report from Associate Executive Director Kurt Gibson on the annual All-School mailing that was conducted on August 6.