Schools would provide planned seizure care and train staff

Schools would provide seizure medicines and help with treatment devices according to each student’s care plan and the family’s request. The requirements would cover public, charter, and private schools that students attend in person. Families seeking care would submit a written plan with medical orders and signed permission to share medical information with health care providers, school employees, and bus drivers. A school nurse would provide care, or trained volunteer employees would do so when a nurse is absent. A nurse or trained volunteer would be available during school hours, school-sponsored activities and trips, and bus rides when the driver lacks seizure-care training.

School boards and other school leaders would arrange annual seizure safety training for all school employees and bus drivers. Safety training would cover recognizing seizures, responding to them, and giving first aid. Schools serving students with seizure disorders would need at least two employees trained annually to give seizure medicines and help use prescribed treatment devices. Schools without two trained employees would seek volunteers. Employees could decline without penalty. A school nurse would provide the care training. If the school has no nurse, a health care practitioner with seizure expertise would provide it. The state department responsible for schools would adopt rules for general seizure safety training by December 31, 2026.

Trained volunteer employees could provide seizure care without being health care practitioners and would be exempt from rules restricting care by nonmedical staff. The care exemptions would cover trained volunteer employees. Liability protection would cover school employees, including nurses and bus drivers. Protection from civil lawsuits or professional liability would apply only when employees take ordinary care and follow the act. Students’ rights and school districts’ duties under federal disability laws would remain protected.