SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2376

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 2376 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill revises current law concerning the provision of care for students with epilepsy and seizure disorders enrolled in public school to require that all staff employed by a board of education be trained in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders once every five years.

     Under “Paul’s Law,” P.L.2019, c.290, the board of education of a school district is required to coordinate the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders.  Parents or guardians seeking epilepsy or seizure disorder care for a student while at school are required to annually submit to the school nurse a seizure action plan for the student and provide written authorization for the provision of epilepsy or seizure disorder care.  The school nurse is then required to develop an individualized health care plan and an individualized emergency health care plan for the student and annually update the plans.  In addition, boards of education are required to ensure that all staff, including staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day, are trained in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders.  However, there is currently no requirement that this training be conducted at regular intervals.  This amended bill requires that all school staff undergo training in the care of students with epilepsy and seizure disorders every five years.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to require training every five years instead of every two years.