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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-450" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Health and Safety of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “seizure action plan” means a written individualized health plan designed to acknowledge and prepare for the health care needs of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, a county board shall require at least two school personnel at each public school, subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, to complete a paid professional development training, administered online or in–person, in:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a seizure;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Appropriate steps for administering first aid for a seizure; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If written authorization is given by a parent or guardian under subsection (g) of this section, administering or assisting with the self–administration of a seizure rescue medication, medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and manual vagus nerve stimulation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A school nurse, certified nursing assistant, or certified medication technician shall serve as one of the trained school personnel required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An individual who is recommended by the school nurse or other school health practitioner and who volunteers may serve as one of the trained school personnel under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The training required under paragraph (1) of this subsection may count toward the renewal of a professional certificate issued by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, a public school shall require an individual trained under subsection (b) of this section to present, every 2 years, to all school personnel who have direct contact and supervision of students an abridged version of the best practices for seizure response, based on the school health services guidelines developed under subsection (d) of this section, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a seizure; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Procedures for notifying the school personnel trained in administering first aid for a seizure.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>School personnel shall attend the presentation required under paragraph (1) of this subsection during professional development, a preservice meeting, or a staff meeting.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A county board is encouraged to provide to school bus drivers and school bus aides:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The presentation required under paragraph (1) of this subsection during their work hours; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The information from the presentation required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Department and the Maryland Department of Health, in consultation with the Epilepsy Foundation of America and other interested stakeholders, shall develop school health services guidelines and a training program for the school personnel under subsection (b) of this section on the management of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, a nonpublic school may require at least two school personnel to be trained in:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a seizure;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Appropriate steps for administering first aid for a seizure; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, administering or assisting with the self–administration of a seizure rescue medication, medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and manual vagus nerve stimulation.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A school nurse or other school health care practitioner may serve as one of the trained school personnel required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In order to authorize school personnel to administer or assist in the administration of seizure medication, a nonpublic school shall obtain written authorization from a parent or guardian in accordance with subsection (g) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The parent or guardian of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder shall collaborate with school personnel to create a seizure action plan.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, shall ensure:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Health guidelines include seizure first aid procedures; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Health plans include seizure action plans.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A copy of a seizure action plan shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Retained in the office of the school nurse or an administrator; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Distributed to any school personnel or volunteer responsible for the supervision or care of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The parent or guardian of a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder shall provide the school with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A written authorization for a trained school employee to administer or assist with administering seizure medication at school;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The prescribed medication in an unopened, sealed package with the label affixed by the dispensing pharmacy intact; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A written statement from the student’s health care practitioner that includes:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The student’s name;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The name and purpose of the medication;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>The prescribed dosage;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>The route of administration;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>The frequency that the medication may be administered; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>The circumstances under which the medication may be administered.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A written authorization for the administration of a seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Effective for the school year in which it is submitted; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Renewed each school year if the requirements of this subsection are fulfilled.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize any public school personnel to administer or assist in self–administration of medication for a seizure, unless the personnel:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Has completed the paid professional development training under subsection (b) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is authorized through written authorization under subsection (g) of this section to administer or assist in self–administration of medication.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Except for any willful or grossly negligent act, an employee or other school personnel who responds in good faith to a student experiencing a seizure or seizure disorder symptoms in accordance with this section is immune from civil liability for any act or omission in the course of responding to the situation.</text>
  </level>
</section>
