Summary.
The bill prohibits all forms of discrimination against people with epilepsy. In education, it bars a school from denying a person enrollment, continued attendance, or participation because of epilepsy. These provisions address access to education as well as the ability of people with epilepsy to remain at school and take part in its activities.
Public and private schools must have mandatory protocols for responding to epileptic seizures. At a minimum, each protocol must cover the identification of warning signs, the procedure to be followed during a seizure, and measures to protect the student physically. It must also provide for immediate communication with parents or guardians, procedures after the seizure, and a record of the incident. The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación), in coordination with the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), will regulate and update these protocols according to medical and scientific criteria.
The bill requires teaching and administrative staff to receive annual training on epilepsy. It also provides that diagnosed students must have an individual care plan. Together with the protocols for responding to seizures, these measures establish duties for schools and their staff concerning the care of students with epilepsy.
In healthcare, the bill provides that the State will guarantee continuous access to antiepileptic medicines. It assigns the Ministry of Health the development of specialized programs for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. It also provides for nationwide awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the stigma associated with epilepsy. These provisions cover access to medicines, medical care, and information directed at the public.
The bill requires institutions to ensure reasonable accommodations for effective inclusion of people with epilepsy. It assigns the competent authorities responsibility for supervising compliance and imposing sanctions. Its transitional provisions set a period of 6 months for regulations and 12 months for implementation of a care network. Finally, it declares the proposed law to be a matter of public order and social interest. The bill makes no express amendments to other legislation.
The public bodies involved through their roles in educational protocols and care programs are the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. The bill also reaches public and private schools, teaching and administrative staff, diagnosed students, and their parents or guardians. In healthcare, its provisions concern those involved in access to antiepileptic medicines and in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services.
What it proposes.
- Prohibition of discrimination based on epilepsy.
- Inclusive education and seizure response in schools.
- Access to medicines and specialized medical care.
- Supervision, sanctions, and implementation periods.
Who it would affect.
- People with epilepsy and diagnosed students.
- Public and private schools.
- Teaching and administrative staff.
- Institutions and competent authorities.
Key points.
- Prohibits discrimination against people with epilepsy and bars denial of school enrollment, continued attendance, or participation on that ground.Arts. 1-2
- Requires school protocols for responding to epileptic seizures and assigns their regulation and updating to the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Health.Art. 3
- Establishes annual epilepsy training for teaching and administrative staff and an individual care plan for diagnosed students.Arts. 4-5
- Provides for continuous access to antiepileptic medicines and specialized diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up programs.Arts. 6-7
- Provides for nationwide campaigns to reduce stigma and reasonable accommodations for effective inclusion.Arts. 8-9
- Assigns the competent authorities responsibility for supervising compliance and imposing sanctions.Art. 10
- Sets 6 months for regulations and 12 months for implementation of a care network, and declares the proposed law a matter of public order and social interest.Arts. 11-12