THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 1201
Student Health and Safety
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An act relating to student health and safety; amending
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s. 385.207, F.S.; revising Department of Health
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responsibilities for educational programs concerning
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epilepsy; amending s. 1006.0626, F.S.; revising the
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definition of the term "school"; revising requirements
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for a student's individualized seizure action plan;
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revising the list of which employees must complete
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training in the care of students with epilepsy and
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seizure disorders; providing that the training is
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valid for 5 years; requiring schools to display a
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specified poster; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
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385.207, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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385.207 Care and assistance of persons with epilepsy;
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establishment of programs in epilepsy control.—
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(2) The Department of Health shall:
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(e) Institute and maintain an educational program among
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physicians, hospitals, county health departments, and the public
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concerning epilepsy, including the dissemination of information
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and the conducting of educational programs concerning the
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prevention of epilepsy and methods developed and used for the
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care and treatment of persons with epilepsy. The educational
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program must include the education and training requirements of
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s. 1006.0626(3) and (5).
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Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
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of subsection (2), and paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of
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section 1006.0626, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection
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(5) is added to that section, to read:
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1006.0626 Care of students with epilepsy or seizure
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disorders.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(c) "School" has the same meaning as in s. 1003.01(17) and
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includes charter schools under s. 1002.33.
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(2)
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(b) An ISAP must be developed and signed by a medical
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professional, in consultation with the student's parent, and
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include the following:
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1. Written orders from the student's medical professional,
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in a form determined by the medical professional, outlining the
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student's epilepsy or seizure disorder recommended care.
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2. The parent's signature.
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3. The student's epilepsy or seizure disorder symptoms.
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4. Any accommodations the student requires for school
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trips, after-school programs and activities, class parties, and
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any other school-related activities.
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5. When and whom to call for medical assistance.
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6. The student's ability to manage, and the student's
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level of understanding of, his or her epilepsy or seizure
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disorder.
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7. How to maintain communication with the student; the
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student's parent; and the student's health care team, school
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nurse, and educational staff.
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8. Any rescue medication prescribed by the student's
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medical professional and how and when to administer the
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medication.
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(3) The school nurse or an appropriate school employee of
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a school that receives an ISAP pursuant to subsection (2) shall:
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(b) Verify that each school district or charter school
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employee whose duties include regular contact with the student,
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including any employee who teaches or transports the student to
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and from school or school activities, has completed training in
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the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders. The
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training must include how to recognize the symptoms of and
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provide care for epilepsy and seizure disorders. To assist
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schools in meeting this requirement, the Department of Education
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shall identify on its website one or more online training
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courses that are provided by a nonprofit national organization
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that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and
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seizure disorders and are available free of charge to schools.
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The completion of training is valid for 5 years.
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(5) Each school as defined in paragraph (1)(c) shall
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display a poster developed by the department which describes the
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basic steps of responding to an individual having a seizure. The
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department shall identify one or more posters that are provided
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by a national nonprofit organization that supports the welfare
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of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders and are
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available free of charge to schools.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.