HEALTH/CHILDREN: Urges and requests the state Department of Education and local public school governing authorities to report to the House Committee on Health and Welfare relative to accommodating students with seizure disorders

HLS 26RS-2496 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 74
BY REPRESENTATIVE MILLER
HEALTH/CHILDREN: Urges and requests the state Department of Education and local
public school governing authorities to report to the House Committee on Health and
Welfare relative to accommodating students with seizure disorders
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the state Department of Education and local public school governing
3 authorities to develop and submit a report to the House Committee on Health and
4 Welfare on the accommodation of students with seizure disorders.
5 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4, enacted in 2022, authorizes the parent or legal guardian
6 of a student with a seizure disorder to submit a seizure action plan developed in
7 collaboration with the student’s treating physician to the school; and
8 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 requires the state Department of Education to develop or
9 approve and make available two courses of instruction related to seizure disorders, including
10 seizure recognition and first aid training, consisting of one course designed for school nurses
11 and a separate course for school personnel, including teachers and school bus operators, who
12 have regular contact with students with seizure disorders; and
13 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 requires each public school governing authority to require
14 school nurses, employees, and bus operators to successfully complete the applicable course
15 biennially; and
16 WHEREAS, seizure disorders, including epilepsy, constitute a chronic neurological
17 health condition affecting thousands of children in this state, requiring ongoing medical
18 management, individualized care planning, and appropriate accommodations within the
19 school setting; and
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1 WHEREAS, seizure disorders, including epilepsy, affect approximately four
2 hundred seventy thousand children in this state, and epilepsy impacts more than three
3 million individuals nationwide, demonstrating the widespread nature of this condition; and
4 WHEREAS, in this state, it is estimated that approximately eight thousand children
5 have a seizure disorder, and tens of thousands of individuals statewide are living with
6 epilepsy, demonstrating that a significant number of Louisiana students are directly impacted
7 within the public school system; and
8 WHEREAS, the state Department of Education has identified that students with
9 seizure disorders may face a range of educational and health-related challenges, including
10 learning difficulties, medication side effects, missed instructional time, anxiety and stress,
11 physical limitations, communication challenges, and a lack of awareness and understanding,
12 all of which may adversely impact academic performance and student well-being; and
13 WHEREAS, timely administration of seizure rescue medications, as prescribed by
14 a licensed physician, is the recognized standard of care and is critical in preventing
15 prolonged seizures, status epilepticus, and other serious or life-threatening complications;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, reports have indicated that, despite valid physician orders and submitted
18 seizure action plans, some Louisiana students are being denied access to prescribed seizure
19 rescue medications during the school day or during school-sponsored activities; and
20 WHEREAS, such denials are inconsistent with the treatment of other chronic health
21 conditions in schools, such as asthma and diabetes, for which students are routinely afforded
22 access to prescribed emergency medications; and
23 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 does not currently provide an enforcement mechanism,
24 reporting requirements, or oversight provisions to ensure uniform compliance across school
25 districts; and
26 WHEREAS, the absence of standardized reporting and accountability measures
27 limits the ability of the legislature to evaluate the effectiveness of the law, ensure
28 compliance, and identify gaps in implementation that may place students at risk; and
29 WHEREAS, Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana, established in 1977, is a nonprofit
30 organization dedicated to providing direct support and community-based services to
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1 individuals living with epilepsy across the state, and as a member of Epilepsy Alliance
2 America, delivers programs including client services, seizure first aid and safety training,
3 and educational and community outreach initiatives.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
5 Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education,
6 in collaboration with each local public school governing authority, to submit a written report
7 to the House Committee on Health and Welfare no later than January 1, 2027, containing the
8 following information for each school district:
9 (1) Implementation of seizure action plans, including all of the following:
10 (a) The procedures in place to receive, review, and implement seizure action plans.
11 (b) Measures taken to help ensure such plans are accessible to appropriate personnel
12 during the school day and school-sponsored activities.
13 (2) Training efforts, including all of the following:
14 (a) The number and percentage of school nurses who have completed seizure-related
15 training.
16 (b) The number and percentage of teachers, school staff, and bus operators who have
17 completed relevant training.
18 (c) A description of the training programs utilized and the frequency of such
19 training.
20 (3) Medication access and administration, including all of the following:
21 (a) Policies governing the possession and administration of seizure rescue
22 medications.
23 (b) Any challenges encountered in ensuring access to prescribed seizure rescue
24 medications during the school day or school-sponsored activities.
25 (c) Steps taken or considered to address such challenges.
26 (4) Implementation and support of seizure training, including all of the following:
27 (a) Practices used by the district to support implementation of R.S. 17:436.4.
28 (b) Any areas in which additional guidance, resources, or support may be beneficial.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
30 of Louisiana encourages the state Department of Education, in consultation with school
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1 districts and relevant stakeholders, to identify best practices and develop guidance to support
2 consistent implementation of R.S. 17:436.4 across this state.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
4 of Louisiana requests the state Department of Education to study and provide
5 recommendations regarding:
6 (1) Opportunities to improve awareness and training related to seizure disorders in
7 schools.
8 (2) Approaches to help ensure that students with physician-prescribed seizure action
9 plans have appropriate access to necessary care during the school day and school-related
10 activities.
11 (3) Potential options for enhancing statewide coordination and data collection.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
13 of Louisiana encourages the identification and pursuit of available funding sources,
14 including federal grants and partnerships, to support training, education, and resources for
15 students with seizure disorders and school personnel.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17 executive director of Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana and the secretary of the state Department
18 of Education.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on Health and Welfare
20 of the Legislature of Louisiana recognizes the importance of supporting students with seizure
21 disorders and expresses its commitment to promoting the health and safety of Louisiana’s
22 youth through informed, evidence-based policy initiatives.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 74 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Miller
Urges and requests the state Department of Education and local public school governing
authorities to report to the House Committee on Health and Welfare relative to
accommodating students with seizure disorders.
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