Relating to seizure disorders and establishing certain requirements for charter schools, school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and the department of education

However, school personnel, other than a registered nurse, are not required to administer a suppository to a student. 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 school personnel or volunteers responsible for the supervision or care of students. The training must be fully consistent with programs and guidelines developed by the epilepsy foundation of America. Further, each charter school and 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 charter school, 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 care professionals, including the school nurse or education team, in the development of an individual health plan, and a seizure action plan if appropriate, consistent with the state board’s rules. The individual health plan or seizure plan, based on the student’s needs, may 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 consistent with individual health plan timelines and state board of education rules. 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 charter school and school district may provide an age-appropriate seizure education program to all students on seizures and seizure disorders. A charter school, school district, or nonpublic school; charter school employee, school district employee, or nonpublic school 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. The bill directs the department of education, in collaboration with the department of health and human services, to convene a charter school and school district health-related training requirements task force to review health-related training requirements established in the Code and the Iowa administrative code, with which charter schools and school districts must comply. Voting members of the task force shall include persons deemed appropriate by the department of education, in collaboration with the department of health and human services. The departments shall work cooperatively to provide staffing and administrative support to the task force. The task force shall submit its uniform training framework, findings, and recommendations to the general assembly by December 30, 2023.