Markosek bill would establish epilepsy management and training plans in Pa. schools

Legislation would also raise awareness for students with epilepsy

HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 – State Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Allegheny, is sponsoring legislation that would help prepare teachers and school administrators in the event a student suffers a seizure at school.

House Bill 622, to be known as Haley’s Law, would establish procedures for parents to give their child’s school a physician-approved seizure management and treatment plan. It would also connect teachers, faculty and staff with seizure recognition training and basic first aid skills.

“If a student suffers a seizure at school, the experience can be traumatic for the student, their classmates and school staff,” Markosek said. “By giving schools the ability to effectively train and plan for such an event, trauma could be minimized, and lives could be saved.”

Haley’s Law would be named after Haley Delo, a young Plum, Pa. native who suffered seizures at school when she was 4 and 5 years old. Markosek said Haley’s mom, Victoria Delo, reached out to him to propose a law that would make it mandatory for teachers to be trained to handle a student having a seizure.

“Giving our teachers access to epilepsy treatment plans and training will empower them to act quickly if a student suffers an epileptic episode at school,” Markosek said. “This legislation would make our schools safer for students with epilepsy.”

House Bill 622 was referred to the House Education Committee where it awaits further action.