Pupil health: seizure disorders.

Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for the work. Existing law authorizes school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide emergency naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to school nurses or trained personnel who have volunteered, and authorizes school nurses or trained personnel to use naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose, as provided. Existing law authorizes any pupil who is required to take, during the regular schoolday, medication to be assisted by the school nurse or other designated school personnel, as provided. This bill would, if a pupil diagnosed with seizures, a seizure disorder, or epilepsy has been prescribed an emergency anti-seizure medication by the pupil's health care provider, authorize the pupil's local educational agency, upon receipt of a request from the pupil's parent or guardian, to designate one or more volunteers at the pupil's school to receive initial and annual refresher training regarding the emergency use of anti-seizure medication. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish minimum standards of training for the administration of emergency anti-seizure medication, as provided. The bill would authorize a school nurse or, if the school does not have a school nurse or the school nurse is not onsite or available, a volunteer who has been designated and received training regarding the emergency use of anti-seizure medication, to administer emergency anti-seizure medication to a pupil diagnosed with seizures, a seizure disorder, or epilepsy if the pupil is suffering from a seizure. The bill would require any local educational agency or school upon receipt of a parent or guardian's request to distribute a related notice at least once per school year to all staff. Before administering emergency anti-seizure medication or therapy prescribed to treat seizures in a pupil diagnosed with seizures, a seizure disorder, or epilepsy, the bill would require a local educational agency to obtain from the pupil's parent or guardian a seizure action plan that includes specified information. By imposing new duties on school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.