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 835.)
HF 102 would establish a statewide framework for how Iowa schools respond to students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It defines key terms such as individual health plan, seizure action plan, school nurse, and school personnel, and then requires public schools and accredited nonpublic schools to ensure that at least one employee at each school is trained to administer or assist with seizure rescue medication and vagus nerve stimulator magnet use, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill also requires broader seizure recognition and first-aid training for school personnel, with recurring biennial training for staff responsible for supervising or caring for students.
The bill further requires schools, when requested by a parent or guardian, to work with families and relevant health professionals to develop and update an individual health plan and, when appropriate, a seizure action plan. Schools must keep the required authorizations and plans on file and share relevant seizure-action information with staff who supervise the student. It also directs the state board of education to adopt rules for an age-appropriate seizure education program and requires that any state-developed training align with Epilepsy Foundation of America guidelines, while allowing schools and the department of education to require additional training.
HF 102 would amend Iowa law by creating a new section in chapter 280 governing school health procedures for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. It would impose training, documentation, planning, and information-sharing duties on school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, while also providing liability protection for schools and employees acting in good faith and in compliance with a student’s health plan and seizure action plan. The bill would affect school administrators, school nurses, teachers, bus drivers, para-educators, and other staff who supervise students, as well as parents and guardians of affected students.
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. The House Education Committee report passed 21-2, indicating broad support with limited opposition. No committee transcript was provided, and the bill was later withdrawn, so the record does not show final floor debate or a conclusive enacted outcome. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed as a student safety and preparedness measure with bipartisan or near-bipartisan committee backing.
The main points of potential contention are the added compliance obligations for schools, including mandatory staff training, maintaining written plans, and ensuring trained personnel are available at each school. Another possible issue is the scope of who may administer seizure-related medication or assist with vagus nerve stimulation, although the bill explicitly says non-nurse staff are not required to administer suppositories. The liability immunity provision may also draw attention because it shields schools and employees from claims when acting in good faith and in compliance with the required plans.