Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to seizure disorders and establishing certain requirements for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and the department of education
Topics:K–12 education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 20, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2021
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 8, 2021
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 11, 202191–1
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa schools must create special health plans for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. These schools are also required to train staff members on how to recognize seizures and provide first aid. Additionally, the state will create a seizure education program to help teach people across Iowa.1
Read the official explanation
13D, and requires the department of education to develop and implement a seizure education program statewide. The bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to have at least one school employee at each school who has met the training requirements for administering medications and vagus nerve stimulation. The presence of a full-time registered nurse who assumes responsibility for the administration of seizure medications and vagus nerve stimulation meets this requirement. The bill includes definitions and requirements relating to the development of individual health plans and seizure action plans. Every school attendance center shall provide training to all school personnel who have direct contact with and supervise children. The training must be fully consistent with programs and guidelines developed by the epilepsy foundation of America. Further, each school district must require all school personnel to undergo approved seizure recognition and first aid training on a biennial basis. The new Code section shall not be construed to limit the authority of a school district or the department to require additional seizure disorder training. Prior to administering medication prescribed to treat a student’s seizure disorder symptoms, the student’s parent or guardian must provide the school with a written authorization to administer the medication at school. The parent or guardian of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder may collaborate with licensed health personnel to create an individual health plan, and a seizure action plan if appropriate, consistent with the state board’s rules. The individual health plan shall include assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcomes, planning, interventions, student goals, if applicable, and a plan for emergencies to provide direction in managing the student’s health needs. The plan must be updated as needed and at least annually. Each school shall keep the parent’s written authorization requesting medication administration at school, the individual health plan, and the seizure action plan on file in the office of the school nurse or school administrator, and distribute information regarding the seizure action to any school personnel or volunteers responsible for the student. The health plan information is confidential under federal law. Provisions relating to the administration of medication prescribed to treat a specific student’s seizure disorder symptoms, and to distribution of information about a specific student’s seizure action plan to persons responsible for the supervision or care of the student apply only to schools that have a student enrolled who has a known epilepsy diagnosis or seizure disorder or has a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms. Every school district may provide an age-appropriate seizure education program to all students on seizures and seizure disorders. A school district, school district employee, or agent who acts in good faith to provide assistance or services in compliance with the student’s individual health plan and the instructions of the student’s licensed health care professional shall not be liable for any claim for injuries or damages arising from the provision of such services to students with epilepsy or seizure disorders.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 21, 2021. Meeting: Wednesday, January 27 · 2:00 PM · RM 24A.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill requires school districts and nonpublic schools to train staff on how to respond to students experiencing seizures and to create individual health plans for those students. There may be costs for school districts and nonpublic schools if training occurs outside of regular professional development time or requires hourly staff. Costs for the state-level task force are expected to be minimal.3
Read the fiscal note
Requester – Representative Molly Donahue
Description
House File 795 requires specified training for school personnel and for each school district and nonpublic school to have at least one school employee who is trained to respond to a student experiencing seizure symptoms and administer or assist with the self-administration of medication or prescribed medical procedure. The Bill outlines requirements for the student’s parent or guardian responsibility to authorize the administration of medication, and for the creation of an individual health plan and distribution of a seizure action plan for those students diagnosed with a seizure disorder. The Bill provides immunity from criminal or civil liability for those providing services as detailed. The Department of Education (DE) is required to develop and implement a statewide seizure education program, and in collaboration with the Department of Public Health establish a school district health-related training requirements task force.
Background
An individual healthcare plan (IHP) is a document created to support a student with a medical condition that may require care while at school. The licensed registered school nurse, or other licensed qualified health care practitioner, creates the IHP with the student, family, health care provider, and school team to coordinate health services at school. For a student diagnosed with epilepsy or a seizure disorder, the IHP can incorporate a seizure response plan to detail needed steps for seizure management including safety protocols, proper response to seizures, administration or assistance for self-administration of medication or prescribed electrical stimulation, and recognition of an emergency situation.
Often times the school nurse will be notified to assist with a student experiencing a seizure. Currently in school districts there are 650 full-time school nurses and 110 part-time school nurses. Teachers and other support staff may be trained as well when working with a student identified to have epilepsy or a seizure disorder. The Epilepsy Foundation does provide free online training for school personnel and students.
Assumptions
- According to the DE Medication Administration Manual, qualified personnel may provide medication administration. Qualified personnel include a registered nurse or school personnel qualified to administer medication. For school personnel to be qualified, they must complete the medication administration course provided by the DE every five years and receive an annual certification signed by the school nurse after skills demonstrations have been completed. This Bill does not require a registered nurse in each school building.
- School personnel will meet the training requirements during already established professional development time using free training as provided or similar to what is provided by the Epilepsy Foundation.
Fiscal Impact
There may be costs for school districts and nonpublic schools for training conducted outside of already established professional development time or for hourly staff employees. Costs associated with the School District Health-Related Task Force are expected to be minimal as most Task Force members are expected to be employees of the DE and the Department of Public Health and pursuant to Iowa Code section 70A.1, are not eligible for per diem expenses.
Sources
- Department of Education
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Seizure Safe Schools · March 10, 2021
Family tree
89th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2090 Relating to seizure disorders and establishing certain requirements for school districts, …88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · similarCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SF 378 Relating to seizure disorders and establishing certain requirements for charter schools, s…90th General Assembly · In committeeNearly identical
- SSB 3104 SSB 310489th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2362Similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.