OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 606 Bill Analysis
134th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 606’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Bird and Ingram
Effective Date:
Allison Schoeppner, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
Requires public and chartered nonpublic schools to create an individualized seizure action
plan for each enrolled student who has an active seizure disorder diagnosis.
Requires at least one employee at each school to be trained on implementing seizure
action plans.
Provides a qualified immunity in a civil action for money damages for school districts and
schools and their officers and employees for injury, death, or other loss allegedly arising
from providing care or performing duties under the bill.
Entitles the bill “Sarah’s Law for Seizure Safe Schools Act.”
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Seizure action plans
The bill requires each public and chartered nonpublic school to create an individualized
seizure action plan for each enrolled student who has an active seizure disorder diagnosis. It must
be created by the school nurse, or another district or school employee if a school district or school
does not have a school nurse, in collaboration with the student’s parent or guardian.
Each plan must include:
1. A written request signed by a parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of
the student to have drugs prescribed for a seizure disorder administered to the student;
2. A written statement from the student’s treating practitioner providing the drug
information for each drug prescribed for the student for a seizure disorder; and
June 8, 2022
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
3. Any other component required by the State Board of Education.1
The plan is effective only for the school year in which a written request is submitted and
must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Plans must be maintained in the school
nurse’s office, or school administrator’s office if the school does not employ a full-time school
nurse.2
For each student who has a seizure action plan in force, a school nurse or school
administrator must notify each school employee, contractor, and volunteer who (1) regularly
interacts with the student, (2) has legitimate educational interest in the student, or (3) is
responsible for the direct supervision or transportation of the student in writing regarding the
existence and content of the student’s plan.
Further, each school nurse or school administrator must identify each individual who has
received training under the seizure action plan in the administration of drugs prescribed for
seizure disorders (see below). A school nurse or another district employee also must coordinate
seizure disorder care at each school and ensure that all required staff are trained in the care of
students with seizure disorders.3
Finally, a drug prescribed for a student with a seizure disorder must be provided to the
school nurse or another person at the school who is authorized to administer it to the student.
The drug also must be provided in the container in which it was dispensed by the prescriber or
licensed pharmacist.4
Training on seizure action plans
The bill requires districts and schools once every two years to train or arrange training for
at least one employee at each school, aside from a school nurse, on the implementation of
seizure action plans. Training must be consistent with guidelines and best practices established
by a nonprofit organization that supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and seizure
disorders, such as the Epilepsy Alliance Ohio,5 Epilepsy Foundation of Ohio,6 or other similar
organizations as determined by the Department of Education.
Training must address the following:
1. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a seizure;
2. Appropriate treatment for a student exhibiting the symptoms of a seizure; and
1 R.C. 3313.7117(B), 3314.03(A)(11)(d), 3326.11, and 3328.24.
2 R.C. 3313.7117(E) and (F).
3 R.C. 3313.7117(C).
4 R.C. 3313.7117(D).
5 https://www.epilepsy-ohio.org/.
6 https://ww.ohioepilepsy.org/.
P a g e |2 H.B. 606
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
3. Administering seizure disorder drugs prescribed for the student.
The bill limits a seizure training program to one hour and qualifies the required seizure
disorder training as a professional development activity for educator license renewal. If the
training is provided to a district or school on portable media by a nonprofit entity, the training
must be provided free of charge.7
Districts and schools also must require each person employed as an administrator,
guidance counselor, teacher, or bus driver to complete a minimum of one hour of self-study or
in-person training on seizure disorders within 12 months after the bill’s effective date. Any such
individual employed after that date must complete a training within 90 days of employment.8
Qualified immunity
The bill provides a qualified immunity in a civil action for money damages for a school,
school district, members of a school district board or school governing authority, and a district’s
or school’s employees for injury, death, or other loss allegedly arising from providing care or
performing duties under the bill. The immunity does not apply if any act or omission constitutes
willful or wanton misconduct.9
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 03-28-22
Reported, H. Primary & Secondary Education 05-18-22
Passed House (93-1) 05-25-22
ANHB0606PH-134/ec
7 R.C. 3313.7117(G).
8 R.C. 3313.7117(H).
9 R.C. 3313.7117(I).
P a g e |3 H.B. 606
As Passed by the House
Statutes affected: As Introduced: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24
As Reported By House Committee: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24
As Passed By House: 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24