Florida Senate - 2026 SB 186
By Senator Garcia
36-00590-26 2026186__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student health and safety; amending
3 s. 385.207, F.S.; revising Department of Health
4 responsibilities for educational programs concerning
5 epilepsy; amending s. 1006.0626, F.S.; revising the
6 definition of the term “school”; revising requirements
7 for a student’s individualized seizure action plan;
8 revising the list of which employees must complete
9 training in the care of students with epilepsy and
10 seizure disorders; providing that the training is
11 valid for 5 years; requiring schools to display a
12 specified poster; providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
17 385.207, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
18 385.207 Care and assistance of persons with epilepsy;
19 establishment of programs in epilepsy control.—
20 (2) The Department of Health shall:
21 (e) Institute and maintain an educational program among
22 physicians, hospitals, county health departments, and the public
23 concerning epilepsy, including the dissemination of information
24 and the conducting of educational programs concerning the
25 prevention of epilepsy and methods developed and used for the
26 care and treatment of persons with epilepsy. The educational
27 program must include the education and training requirements of
28 s. 1006.0626(3) and (5).
29 Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
30 of subsection (2), and paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of
31 section 1006.0626, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection
32 (5) is added to that section, to read:
33 1006.0626 Care of students with epilepsy or seizure
34 disorders.—
35 (1) As used in this section, the term:
36 (c) “School” has the same meaning as in s. 1003.01(17) and
37 includes charter schools under s. 1002.33.
38 (2)
39 (b) An ISAP must be developed and signed by a medical
40 professional, in consultation with the student’s parent, and
41 include the following:
42 1. Written orders from the student’s medical professional,
43 in a form determined by the medical professional, outlining the
44 student’s epilepsy or seizure disorder recommended care.
45 2. The parent’s signature.
46 3. The student’s epilepsy or seizure disorder symptoms.
47 4. Any accommodations the student requires for school
48 trips, after-school programs and activities, class parties, and
49 any other school-related activities.
50 5. When and whom to call for medical assistance.
51 6. The student’s ability to manage, and the student’s level
52 of understanding of, his or her epilepsy or seizure disorder.
53 7. How to maintain communication with the student; the
54 student’s parent; and the student’s health care team, school
55 nurse, and educational staff.
56 8. Any rescue medication prescribed by the student’s
57 medical professional and how and when to administer the
58 medication.
59 (3) The school nurse or an appropriate school employee of a
60 school that receives an ISAP pursuant to subsection (2) shall:
61 (b) Verify that each school district employee whose duties
62 include regular contact with the student, including any employee
63 who teaches students or transports students to and from school
64 or school activities, has completed training in the care of
65 students with epilepsy and seizure disorders. The training must
66 include how to recognize the symptoms of and provide care for
67 epilepsy and seizure disorders. To assist schools in meeting
68 this requirement, the Department of Education shall identify on
69 its website one or more online training courses that are
70 provided by a nonprofit national organization that supports the
71 welfare of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders and
72 are available free of charge to schools. The completion of
73 training is valid for 5 years.
74 (5) Each school as defined in paragraph (1)(c) shall
75 display a poster developed by the department which describes the
76 basic steps of responding to an individual having a seizure. The
77 department shall identify one or more posters that are provided
78 by a national nonprofit organization that supports the welfare
79 of individuals with epilepsy and seizure disorders and are
80 available free of charge to schools.
81 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.