SB 1654
Initials CH/MR Page 1 Education
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: ED DPA 7-0-1-0 | 3rd Read 24-2-4-0
SB1654: schools; seizure management; treatment plans
Sponsor: Senator Kerr, LD 13
Committee on Education
Overview
Allows, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the parent or guardian of a student who has a
seizure disorder to submit a copy of a seizure management and treatment plan (plan) for school
personnel to use if the student suffers a seizure at school or at a school-sponsored activity.
History
Statute authorizes specified individuals, including a trained school district or charter school
employee, to administer or assist in the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors or an inhaler
to a pupil or adult whom the employee believes in good faith to be exhibiting symptoms of
anaphylactic shock or respiratory distress, respectively, while at school or at school-sponsored
activities (A.R.S. §§ 15-157, 15-158).
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) prohibits discrimination on the basis
of a disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the United
States Department of Education (29 U.S.C. § 794). State statute defines a Section 504 plan as a
written statement developed for a pupil with a disability that includes the provision of regular or
special education and related aids and services that is designed to meet individual educational
needs (A.R.S. § 15-731).
Epilepsy is defined as a neurological condition characterized by abnormal electrical-chemical
discharge in the brain. This discharge is manifested in various forms of physical activities referred
to as a seizure (A.R.S. § 36-551).
Provisions
1. Allows, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the parent or guardian of a student who has
a seizure disorder to submit a copy of a plan to the school district or charter school in which
the student is enrolled for school personnel to use if the student suffers a seizure at school or
while participating in a school-sponsored activity. (Sec. 1)
2. Specifies the plan must be developed by the student's parent or guardian and the physician
or registered nurse practitioner responsible for the student's seizure treatment. (Sec. 1)
3. Outlines when the plan must be submitted to and reviewed by the school district or charter
school. (Sec. 1)
4. Details the plan must:
a) Outline procedures recommended by the physician or registered nurse practitioner
responsible for the student's seizure treatment to manage an active seizure;
b) Outline other health care services available at the school that the student may receive to
help to manage the student's seizure disorder; and
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1654
Initials CH/MR Page 2 Education
c) Be signed by the student's parent or guardian and the physician or registered nurse
practitioner responsible for the student's seizure treatment. (Sec. 1)
5. Details the school staff that is responsible for reviewing each plan. (Sec. 1)
6. States a school district or charter school complies with plan requirements if a student requires
an education accommodation under Section 504 that includes a plan. (Sec. 1)
7. Declares school districts, charter schools, school employees and nurses who are under
contract are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions and actions made that are
based on good faith implementation of a plan. (Sec. 1)
8. Requires a school nurse, school principal, guidance counselor, teacher, bus driver or
classroom aide that has received a plan or whose duties include regular contact with students
who have submitted a plan to complete an online course of instruction regarding managing or
awareness of students with seizure disorders. (Sec. 1)
9. Requires the online course to be approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) and include
information about seizure recognition and related first aid. (Sec. 1)
10. Limits the seizure management training to not more than once in a five-year period. (Sec. 1)
11. Instructs SBE, by December 1, 2022, to approve a free online course of instruction provided
by a nonprofit national foundation that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and
seizure disorders to satisfy the required trainings. (Sec. 1)
12. Mandates, beginning September 1, 2023, each school to have at least one school employee
other than a school nurse who has met the training requirements necessary to administer or
assist with the self-administration of:
a) A seizure rescue medication or a medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder
symptoms as approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and
b) A manual dose of prescribed electrical stimulation using a vagus nerve stimulator magnet
as approved by the FDA. (Sec. 1)
13. Directs SBE to adopt rules as necessary. (Sec. 1)