H955 - Seizure Safe Schools Act of 2019 (Sam's Law)

• Parents of students diagnosed with seizure disorders may petition schools to develop individualized seizure action plans that include health care provider statements about medications, dosages, administration methods, and symptoms requiring medication administration.

• Schools must ensure at least one employee in each school building is trained to administer seizure medication according to training standards established by the Epilepsy Foundation of America, Inc., and permitted volunteers may also receive training.

• All public school units must adopt policies requiring annual seizure education programs for staff with direct student contact, covering medication administration, seizure signs and symptoms, and response procedures, and principals, guidance counselors, and teachers must complete at least one hour of annual self-study on seizure disorders.

• All school units, including local schools, charter schools, regional schools, private schools, and University of North Carolina-operated schools, must adopt seizure policies and post seizure first aid information in visible, high-traffic areas.

• $20,000 in nonrecurring funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction to assist the State Board of Education with policy development and implementation; law becomes effective July 1, 2019, and applies beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.