A bill that would better prepare Virginia school personnel to help students having seizures awaits the governorâs signature after being passed by the General Assembly, the results of a grassroots effort primarily started by two Virginia teens who have epilepsy and their families.
The Jamie and Brie Strong Act, SB 1322, named after advocates Jamie Van Cleave, of Yorktown, and Brie Gesick, of Virginia Beach, will make biennial seizure first-aid training mandatory for all school personnel in Virginia, including training on how to recognize a seizure.
Schools will be required to have detailed seizure action plans for all students with a history of epilepsy or a seizure disorder, and a Good Samaritan Clause is included to protect those responding to a seizure from any legal action.