Legislation

Research indicates the typical victims of SCD cases are age 15.5. The addition of a comprehensive physical exam at the logical time a young person develops and becomes more active may avert sudden cardiac death tragedies.

In 2003, on behalf of the Savino Foundation, Pennsylvania State Senator Joe Conti introduced legislation mandating physical exams for all 8th graders within the commonwealth. This would replace a requirement (dating back to 1949) that student medical examinations be conducted upon original entry into school, 6th and 11th grades.

The bill proposed mandated physicals upon original entry into school, 4th, 8th, and 11th grades. It also aimed to broaden the scope of the school physical and lower the nurse-to-student ratio from 1 to 1500 to 1 to 750. Toni Pellegrini and Lorraine Sikora testified several times in support of this bill. Unfortunately, in November, 2006, the bill did not become law.

In the future, the Savino Foundation will continue on its crusade to once again work towards the introduction of a similar bill in Pennsylvania.