In the United States, an estimated 3,400,000 people – of which 470,000 are children – have been diagnosed with epilepsy, a neurological disorder involving recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is the fourth most common neurological disorder, and 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime. Aside from those who have the disorder, many lives are affected by epilepsy. Seizures are unpredictable and can occur at any time—including during school hours. While school nurses are trained to administer medication, school nurses may not be onsite or available when one occurs.
Senate Bill 24 is the Seizure Safe Schools Act, and it will allow schools to designate and train two employees at the school in the administration of rescue medication or treatment prescribed to treat a student with a seizure disorder. Training includes the administration of a manual dose of prescribed electrical stimulation using a Vagus Nerve Stimulator magnet. A school nurse employed full-time by a school is not required to meet these training requirements but may serve as 1 of the 2 required employees that are trained in the administration of seizure rescue medications.
This Act requires all school employees, bus drivers, and other relevant school personnel, with direct contact and supervision of students to be trained every 2 years in administering first aid to a student suffering from a seizure. Age-appropriate training shall also be provided to all students.
The Act further requires a parent or parents of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder to collaborate with the school to create a seizure action plan. The seizure action plan shall include written authorization to administer seizure rescue medication or treatment and specific instructions for administering medication and treatment from the student’s health care provider. The seizure action plan shall be effective for 1 school year.
Finally, the Act provides that any person that provides assistance under this chapter to a student suffering from a seizure is not liable in any criminal or civil action, unless such acts or omissions are wilful or grossly negligent.
| Senate Bill 24– Seizure Safe Schools Act | Currrent Status – Senate Education 1/20/23 |
| House Sponsors – Wilson-Anton, Neal, Baumach, Bolden, Johnson, Morrison // Ramone | Senate Sponsors – Hoffner, Poore, Townsend // Pettyjohn |
| House Yes Votes – | Senate Yes Votes – |
| House No Votes – | Senate No Votes – |
| House Absents or Not Voting – | Senate Absent or Not Voting – |
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