While the governor weighs whether to approve or veto hundreds of bills on his desk, proponents of one measure don’t plan to quit lobbying for their cause.

A contingent of 35 physicians, including pediatricians, neurologists, and other specialists, have sent a letter to Gov. Brown asking him to sign a bill that would allow school employees to give anti-seizure medication to epileptic students in an emergency, according to a news release.

Senate Bill 161, authored by state Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), was passed by California lawmakers and now is among the more than 600 bills awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. Huff also represents Walnut.

“SB 161 is urgently needed to ensure children with a severe form of epilepsy are able to safely attend school,” the letter reads. “Currently, children needing Diastat (Accudial) administered in the event of a seizure are at risk of not getting access to this life-saving medicine because of a lack of access to trained volunteers.”

The bill received bi-partisan support in the state Legislature, but it was not without its detractors. 

The California Teachers Association opposed the bill, largely because of the way Diastat is administered.  The drug must be injected with a soft syringe into a child’s rectum while he is suffering a seizure.  The union, which represents 295,000 educators across the state, had concerns about employees feeling pressured into volunteering. 

Frank Wells, a California Teachers Association spokesman, said in March that the organization opposes non-medical personnel doing certain medical procedures. Under the strain of budget cuts, school nurses are in short supply, but they have found ways to meet the needs of students they serve and to rapidly respond to emergencies, he said.

“We believe the legislation may be well intentioned, but it actually places students at risk,” he said.  “Seizure type recognition and treatment is not to be taken lightly.”

Among the physicians who signed the letter was Dr. Mark Nespeca, a San Diego-based pediatric neurologist who testified in favor of the measure at committee hearings at the State Capitol in the early summer.

“The unions who are advocating against this bill are advocating for children to receive nothing promptly in our schools,” Nespeca said. “That is dangerous for not only my patients with epilepsy, but also the patients of every other child neurologist in the State of California.”

Huff said in a news release that he appreciates the support for the bill he received.

“These are the physicians and specialists who prescribe Diastat to children who suffer from epilepsy,” Huff said. “They study epilepsy. They study the medications that can control it. Nobody understands this issue better than they do.”