Iowa House Bill HF379

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/21/23
• Refer: 2/21/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to school personnel training, emergency care planning, authorizations for assisting, and limitations of liability concerning students with epilepsy or a seizure disorder.(See HF 608.)

Impact

By July 1, 2024, schools will need to comply with provisions requiring training for personnel on recognizing seizure symptoms and administering appropriate aid. The legislation also dictates that training programs must align with guidelines provided by recognized organizations such as the Epilepsy Foundation of America. This initiative seeks to standardize responses to seizure incidents, effectively improving the overall care for these students and ensuring they have a safe and responsive environment in schools.

Summary

House File 379 (HF379) introduces measures regarding the training of school personnel in relation to managing students diagnosed with epilepsy or seizure disorders. The bill mandates that each school district is to ensure that at least one employee at each school is equipped with the necessary training to administer seizure rescue and treatment medications. This is aimed at enhancing the safety and health management of students who experience seizures during school hours.

Contention

A significant point of contention regarding HF379 is the requirement for annual renewal of parent or guardian authorizations for administering seizure-related treatments. Critics argue that this may create added bureaucracy and stress for families already dealing with health challenges. Moreover, the bill includes immunity for school personnel acting in good faith in accordance with a student's individual health plan, which raises debates about accountability in cases of mismanagement or neglect.

Additional_notes

Finally, the bill stipulates that districts only need to maintain these protocols if they have students with diagnosed seizure disorders, which could lead to disparities in how schools address the needs of affected students.