Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday allowing parents to draft “individualized seizure action plans” that school staff could follow in the event their child has a seizure.
The plans will provide school staff with a student’s medical and personal information. It also will include the contact information of parents and health care providers.
Miami Democratic Rep. Nick Duran and Sunrise Democratic Rep. Mike Gottlieb are the bill sponsors (HB 173).
Under the new law, school employees — including nurses, bus drivers, bus aides “or any officer or agent of the school district” — will have to attend training on how to care for students with a submitted seizure action plan.
Miami Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia carried the Senate companion bill. Speaking to Florida Politics in January, Garcia said the bill is “close to home” for her “as someone who suffered” from seizures for a “very long time.”
“I haven’t, fortunately, for the last 25 years,” she added. “But I think that creating awareness with regard to children with epilepsy and seizures is very important.”
The proposals garnered bipartisan support in both chambers. The legislation also calls for those staff members “acting in good faith” — without willful misconduct, gross negligence or recklessness — to be provided immunity from liability.
Putting the legislation into action will have no fiscal impact on the state, according to a Senate staff analysis. It may, though, cost school districts to provide the required training and care planning, staff wrote. The cost is “likely minimal,” the staff analysis adds.
Karen Basha Egozi, CEO of nonprofit Epilepsy Florida, thanked the sponsors for “tirelessly championing” the legislation this Session.
“Thanks to their hard work, Florida is giving parents the tools to know their kids can attend school safely, and with the full knowledge that if their child has a seizure, school personnel will be ready to deal with it,” she said in a statement. “We look forward to this legislation becoming law.”
The bill will take effect July 1.
One comment
Alexandra Lynn Foldsmitb
April 7, 2022 at 8:37 pm
I would just like to know if my nonprofit had anything to do with this ? I am so happy I been trying to get in the schools for the longest get my vender License because I had a seizure in the class room I have written a book sue to teachers saying kids had adhd and was having absence seizures I voice my concern on wear how I couldn’t keep a job how teacher and staff should take a course before they are able to step in the class room their are so many types of seizure bus drives too should take the course and I wasn’t being heard the school made it so very heard like it wasn’t a need but I’m glad you made it happen but if my nonprofit has even a lil part to do with the idea I would like some credit
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