Florida Senate Passes Care of Students With Epilepsy or Seizure Disorders Legislation

For Immediate Release  

FLORIDA SENATE PASSES CARE OF STUDENTS WITH EPILEPSY OR SEIZURE DISORDERS LEGISLATION  

Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, March 3, 2022 – Senate Bill 340 and House Bill 173 have both passed with unanimous support by both the full Florida Senate and full Florida House of Representatives, respectively. The legislation is now on its way to Governor Ron DeSantis for his consideration and signature. 

Spearheaded by Representative Nick Duran (D-Miami), HB 173 will create a seizure action plan in public schools for students who live with seizures. The Senate companion SB 340 was successfully championed by Senator Ileana Garcia (R-Miami). ““The bipartisan support for the epilepsy community was on full display this year due to passionate advocates like Senator Garcia and Representative Duran supporting this important legislation,” said Steve Schale, Board Member of Epilepsy Alliance Florida.

HB 173 and SB 340 standardize health care measures and safety for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders by allowing families to create and submit an individualized seizure action plan to receive health care at school. A seizure action plan contains essential information school staff may need to know to help a student who has seizures. It includes information on first aid, parent and health care provider contacts, and medications specifically for that child. School personnel who are in regular contact with a student with epilepsy will be required to attend trainings relating to care of students with a submitted seizure action plan. 

“We are truly grateful to the Florida Legislature for passing this important legislation, but especially thankful to Senator Garcia and Representative Duran for tirelessly championing this effort throughout the legislative session,” said Karen Basha Egozi, CEO of Epilepsy Alliance Florida. “Thanks to the hard work of Patricia Dean, Chair of Epilepsy Alliance Florida as well as the other Epilepsy Alliance Florida Board Members, Florida is giving parents the tools to know their kids can attend school safely, and with the full knowledge that if their child has a seizure, school personnel will be ready to deal with it. We look forward to this legislation becoming law.” 

To learn more about the care of students with epilepsy or seizure disorders legislation, click here. 

Epilepsy Alliance Florida, established in 1971 as a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3), is dedicated to supporting those impacted by epilepsy by confronting the spectrum of challenges created by seizures. It is a partner of the Epilepsy Alliance America. Epilepsy Alliance Florida provides numerous services to individuals and families, including advocacy and counseling, education and prevention, direct medical and neuropsychological services, as well as other programs regardless of financial situation or socioeconomic status. For more information, visit epilepsyalliancefl.com.     

Contact: Kelsey Lehtomaa Frouge
Email: kelsey@conversaco.com
Cell: 850-321-2262