Louisiana HR 74: 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

Bill Text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 74
BY REPRESENTATIVE MILLER
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the state Department of Education and local public school governing
authorities to develop and submit a report to the House Committee on Health and
Welfare on the accommodation of students with seizure disorders.
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4, enacted in 2022, authorizes the parent or legal guardian
of a student with a seizure disorder to submit a seizure action plan developed in
collaboration with the student’s treating physician to the school; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 requires the state Department of Education to develop or
approve and make available two courses of instruction related to seizure disorders, including
seizure recognition and first aid training, consisting of one course designed for school nurses
and a separate course for school personnel, including teachers and school bus operators, who
have regular contact with students with seizure disorders; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 requires each public school governing authority to require
school nurses, employees, and bus operators to successfully complete the applicable course
biennially; and
WHEREAS, seizure disorders, including epilepsy, constitute a chronic neurological
health condition affecting thousands of children in this state, requiring ongoing medical
management, individualized care planning, and appropriate accommodations within the
school setting; and
WHEREAS, seizure disorders, including epilepsy, affect approximately four
hundred seventy thousand children in this state, and epilepsy impacts more than three
million individuals nationwide, demonstrating the widespread nature of this condition; and
WHEREAS, in this state, it is estimated that approximately eight thousand children
have a seizure disorder, and tens of thousands of individuals statewide are living with
epilepsy, demonstrating that a significant number of Louisiana students are directly impacted
within the public school system; and
Page 1 of 4

HR NO. 74 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the state Department of Education has identified that students with
seizure disorders may face a range of educational and health-related challenges, including
learning difficulties, medication side effects, missed instructional time, anxiety and stress,
physical limitations, communication challenges, and a lack of awareness and understanding,
all of which may adversely impact academic performance and student well-being; and
WHEREAS, timely administration of seizure rescue medications, as prescribed by
a licensed physician, is the recognized standard of care and is critical in preventing
prolonged seizures, status epilepticus, and other serious or life-threatening complications;
and
WHEREAS, reports have indicated that, despite valid physician orders and submitted
seizure action plans, some Louisiana students are being denied access to prescribed seizure
rescue medications during the school day or during school-sponsored activities; and
WHEREAS, such denials are inconsistent with the treatment of other chronic health
conditions in schools, such as asthma and diabetes, for which students are routinely afforded
access to prescribed emergency medications; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:436.4 does not currently provide an enforcement mechanism,
reporting requirements, or oversight provisions to ensure uniform compliance across school
districts; and
WHEREAS, the absence of standardized reporting and accountability measures
limits the ability of the legislature to evaluate the effectiveness of the law, ensure
compliance, and identify gaps in implementation that may place students at risk; and
WHEREAS, Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana, established in 1977, is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to providing direct support and community-based services to
individuals living with epilepsy across the state, and as a member of Epilepsy Alliance
America, delivers programs including client services, seizure first aid and safety training,
and educational and community outreach initiatives.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education,
in collaboration with each local public school governing authority, to submit a written report
to the House Committee on Health and Welfare no later than January 1, 2027, containing the
following information for each school district:
Page 2 of 4

HR NO. 74 ENROLLED
(1) Implementation of seizure action plans, including all of the following:
(a) The procedures in place to receive, review, and implement seizure action plans.
(b) Measures taken to help ensure such plans are accessible to appropriate personnel
during the school day and school-sponsored activities.
(2) Training efforts, including all of the following:
(a) The number and percentage of school nurses who have completed seizure-related
training.
(b) The number and percentage of teachers, school staff, and bus operators who have
completed r