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6/24/2026
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Fogarty, DiPalma bill requiring schools to adopt action plans for students with seizure disorders signed into law
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STATE HOUSE — Legislation sponsored by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma that would require schools to adopt action plans for students diagnosed with epilepsy and seizure disorders has been signed into law.
Representative Fogarty introduced the legislation in memory of Matthew Siravo, who passed away due to complications from an epileptic seizure at the age of 5. Matthew was the son of Representative Fogarty’s neighbors, Richard and Debra Siravo.
The new law (2026-S 7481A, 2026-S 2350A) requires the Department of Education and the Department of Health to issue guidance for the administration of seizure rescue medications administered for students who have been medically identified as having epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
“Any child who has epilepsy should be able to partake in all activities, such as field trips, while the parents have the peace of mind of knowing that their children are in safe hands,” said Representative Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown). “With appropriate training of school personnel, along with safe storage measures, this is legislation that could potentially save lives.”
“Seizures in children are critically serious events that can rapidly become life or death situations. It’s imperative that school staff have the knowledge and ability to administer life-saving medicine in the event of a student having a seizure in school. This bill will ensure that our students who suffer from seizures can receive the vital care that they need immediately in a school setting,” said Senator DiPalma (D-Dist. 10, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
Under the terms of the legislation, a parent or legal guardian of any child could expressly authorize school employees, for when there is no school nurse immediately available, to administer seizure rescue medication to the child in case of an emergency, while at school or school sponsored activities. Any school employee authorized to administer the medications would be trained in seizure first aid using the Epilepsy Foundation Seizure Training for School Personnel Program and American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR certification.
Representative Fogarty and Senator DiPalma worked to amend previous iterations of the bill to address the concerns of various groups and organizations. The National Education Association of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Association and the Epilepsy Foundation of New England all testified in favor of the bill.
Dr. Gregory Fox, advocacy chair for the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the legislation, telling the House Education Committee, “The FDA approval of nasally administered medications has now opened up the possibility of safely training nonmedical personnel to stop seizures if medical personnel isn’t readily available. I have had several requests from the nurses that I cover to see if they can train their staff in its use. For now, without this law, the answer is ‘no.’”
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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