Bill > SB191

This bill, known as the Seizure Safe Schools Act, aims to ensure that students with seizure disorders receive appropriate care in schools by establishing protocols for seizure management and training for school personnel. It defines key terms such as "governing body" (school boards, charter school entities, or private school entities), "school" (any elementary, secondary, middle, junior high, or high school, including public, charter, and private schools), "school employee" (anyone employed by a school or assigned to a school by the department), "school nurse" (a licensed registered nurse authorized to practice as a school nurse), "seizure action plan" (an individualized health plan for students with seizure disorders), and "seizure care personnel" (school employees trained to provide seizure care). The act mandates that by December 31, 2026, the department will create rules for training school employees and bus drivers on recognizing and responding to seizures, including basic first aid. Additionally, schools must ensure that at least two employees, including school nurses or trained seizure care personnel, are annually instructed on administering seizure rescue medications and other prescribed seizure disorder treatments. If a school lacks sufficient trained personnel, the principal must notify staff about voluntary seizure care roles and the provided training. The bill clarifies that seizure care personnel are not required to be healthcare practitioners and that their training will be provided by school nurses or healthcare professionals with seizure disorder expertise. Parents or guardians of students with seizure disorders must submit a seizure action plan detailing the student's specific needs, physician's orders, accommodations for school activities, and contact information, which authorizes school staff to share medical information. Schools are obligated to implement these plans, ensuring that students receive necessary care, including medication administration and assisted use of seizure treatment devices, during school hours and all school-sponsored activities. The act also states that seizure care personnel's actions, when performed with ordinary care and in accordance with the act, will not be considered the practice of nursing and that school employees acting in good faith will be protected from civil or professional liability. Finally, it emphasizes that this act does not diminish existing rights or obligations under federal disability laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=191&year=26