HARRISBURG – Soon after Senator Mike Regan (R-31) and advocates held a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda regarding Senate Bill 836, known as Peyton’s Law, the Senate Education Committee voted on the bill and advanced it to the full Senate.
SB 836 aims to educate every student athlete and their parents about EKG testing to detect underlying heart conditions that can lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
Regan noted at the press conference that his motivation for championing this legislation is Peyton Walker, a graduate of Trinity High School in Camp Hill, who died from Sudden Cardiac Arrest when she was just 19 years old.
“I am so pleased that on the same day that Peyton’s family, supporters of the Peyton Walker Foundation, area students, and even the mother and father of Cody Stephens, for who a Texas EKG testing law was named, were in the Capitol for our Peyton’s Law press conference, the Senate Education Committee voted in favor of SB 836,” said Regan. “We appreciate Chairman Langerholc for considering this bill for his support.”
SB 836 builds off of Act 59 of 2012, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act, which recognized the significance of the issue, requiring information be provided to student athletes about SCA. Currently, student athletes and parents receive an SCA symptoms and warning signs information sheet each school year, which must be signed and returned prior to participation in athletic activities.
Based on the recently enacted legislation in Texas, known as Cody’s Law, SB 836 amends Act 59 to require: 1) information be provided to student athletes and their parents/guardians regarding electrocardiogram testing and 2) they be notified of the option to request the administration of an electrocardiogram in addition to the standard physical examination.
“As a father of four, knowing a simple test could save my children from becoming a victim of SCA motivated me to have my boys screened,” stated Regan. “My legislation provides life-saving information to parents and empowers them to take the same steps I did.”
CONTACT: Taylor Wamsher, twamsher@pasen.gov, 717-787-8524