Quinn’s DOMinate Epilepsy Legislation Sent to Governor
HARRISBURG, PA – Legislation named for a Chester County boy with epilepsy and which will promote seizure recognition and first-aid training for teachers is headed to the governor, according to the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware).
“Dominic Rosini had endured countless tests and hospitalizations in an attempt to control his seizures when I first met him in 2019,” said Quinn. “As Dominic started school, his mother and grandmother, both of whom are teachers, shared his story with me as well as their concern about the need for better seizure recognition and first-aid training for teachers.”
Quinn’s legislation,
House Bill 416 and known as the DOMinate Epilepsy Law would make the completion of an approved-Pennsylvania Department of Health online course in seizure recognition and first-aid creditable for professional continuing education credit. The course would be provided by a national nonprofit foundation with an understanding of epilepsy and seizure disorders.
According to the
Epilepsy Foundation, one in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. More than one-third of the 150,000 Americans diagnosed with epilepsy every year will live with uncontrollable seizures because existing medications and treatments do not work for them.
Dominic’s grandmother, Beth Scolis of Edgmont, Delaware County and Jessica Rosini of West Chester, Chester County first contacted Quinn in 2019 to express their concern about the lack of seizure recognition awareness in schools. Dominic suffered his first seizure in August 2017, shortly before his third birthday
“Epilepsy is more common than autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy combined,” said Rosini. “There are nearly 17,000 children in Pennsylvania living with epilepsy. As they spend so much time in school, it is critical that teachers and other school personnel are able to recognize the signs of a child having seizure and respond appropriately."
While Dominic is not yet seizure free, he has improved significantly, a result which his family attributes to a medical version of the ketogenic diet. Dominic is a happy, thriving first grader.
“November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and I am grateful to my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, in the House and Senate for their passage of this important legislation,” said Quinn. “The DOMinate Epilepsy Law is an important advancement in educating school personnel about seizure recognition and first aid and better protecting kids like Dominic Rosini.”
The legislation will be presented to the governor for his signature. If approved, the legislation will take effect immediately.
Representative Chris Quinn
168th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RepChrisQuinn.com /
Facebook.com/RepChrisQuinn
Media Contact: John Kelemen
215.459.2800
jkelemen@pahousegop.com