Senate education committee backs Seizure Safe Schools Act after families and Epilepsy Foundation testimonies

The Senate Education Committee unanimously passed House Bill 13-15, known as the Seizure Safe Schools Act, after robust testimony from parents, students and the Epilepsy Foundation.

Representative Linda Chesterfield said the bill asks each school to identify two employees who would receive free training provided by the Epilepsy Foundation in seizure recognition, first aid and administration of rescue medication. She said the training would be available at no cost, could include paraprofessionals if needed, and would protect employees who act in good faith from liability.

Multiple witnesses described lived experience to support the measure. Dominique Brown, senior manager of state relations for the Epilepsy Foundation, said the foundation has an established, CDC-supported training portal and that roughly 5,000 Arkansas students live with active epilepsy. Students and parents — including middle- and high-school students who described how seizures can be subtle and how teacher training changed outcomes — urged passage.

Senators asked whether a full-time school nurse would count toward the two trained employees (the answer given was yes where a nurse exists) and whether the training was mandatory (it is not; individuals can refuse). The committee voted to pass the bill by voice vote.

What happens next: The bill passed committee and will proceed per the Senate schedule.