Bill Text: NJ A3537 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every two years.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3537 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A3537-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires boards of education to ensure that all staff are trained in care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every two years.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders and amending P.L.2019, c.290.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2019, c.290 (C.18A:40-12.35) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The parent or guardian of a student with epilepsy or a seizure disorder who seeks epilepsy or seizure disorder care while at school shall submit annually to the school nurse the student's seizure action plan. The school nurse shall develop an individualized health care plan and an individualized emergency health care plan for the student, provided that the parents or guardians of the student annually provide to the board of education written authorization for the provision of epilepsy or seizure disorder care.
b. The individualized health care plan and individualized emergency health care plan developed in accordance with subsection a. of this section shall be updated by the school nurse annually and as necessary in the event that there is a change in the health status of the student.
c. Each individualized health care plan shall include, and each individualized emergency health care plan may include, the following information:
(1) written orders from the student's physician or advanced practice nurse outlining the epilepsy or seizure disorder care;
(2) the symptoms of the epilepsy or seizure disorder for that particular student and recommended care;
(3) full participation in exercise and sports, and any contraindications to exercise, or accommodations that must be made for that particular student;
(4) accommodations for school trips, after-school activities, class parties, and other school-related activities;
(5) education of all school personnel about epilepsy and seizure disorders, how to recognize and provide care for epilepsy and seizure disorders, and when to call for assistance;
(6) medical and treatment issues that may affect the educational process of the student with epilepsy or the seizure disorder;
(7) the student's ability to manage, and the student's level of understanding of, the student's epilepsy or seizure disorder; and
(8) how to maintain communication with the student, the student's parent or guardian and health care team, the school nurse, and the educational staff.
d. (1) The board of education shall coordinate the provision of epilepsy and seizure disorder care at the school and ensure that all staff are trained every two years in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders, including staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day.
(2) The training that is required every two years pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include a Department of Health-approved on-line or in-person course of instruction provided by a nonprofit national organization that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.290, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law concerning the provision of care for students with epilepsy and seizure disorders enrolled in public school to require that all staff employed by a board of education be trained in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders once every two years.
Under "Paul's Law," P.L.2019, c.290, the board of education of a school district is required to coordinate the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders. Parents or guardians seeking epilepsy or seizure disorder care for a student while at school are required to annually submit to the school nurse a seizure action plan for the student and provide written authorization for the provision of epilepsy or seizure disorder care. The school nurse is then required to develop an individualized health care plan and an individualized emergency health care plan for the student and update the plans annually. In addition, boards of education are required to ensure that all staff, including staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day, are trained in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders. However, there is currently no requirement that this training be conducted at regular intervals. This bill would require that all school staff undergo training in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every two years.
