Schools

Should Schools Foot the Bill for Insurance for Student-Athletes?

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Sunday requiring Illinois schools to insure student-athletes who are injured in school sports. Do you think this is the right thing to do?

A new law recently signed by Gov. Pat Quinn requires state high schools to insure student-athletes for injuries suffered while playing school sports, according to Sun-Times Media.

The measure is named "Rocky's Law" after Rasul Clark, the Blue Island running back who was paralyzed in 2000 and whose family ran out of insurance before his death in 2012, the report stated. Quinn signed the bill into law Sunday, Aug. 4, at Eisenhower High School's football field. Clark's mother and other lawmakers, including State Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor), who sponsored the bill and played seven years in the NFL.

READ: Check Out the Full Sun-Times Media Story for More Details

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's some background on the new law does, according to the Sun-Times Media report:

  • Requires schools to cover student-athletes injured in school sports for at least five years or $3 million in benefits, whichever is first
  • Insurance must not exceed $5 per student.
  • School districts must pay for the insurance.
  • Student-athletes must be insured by Jan. 1, 2014.
  • Schools that require student-athletes to have their own insurance are exempt.

YOUR TURN: Is this the right thing for schools to do? Or does this create an unfair burden that don't require student-athletes to have insurance? And should schools be able to dictate that? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here