House committee advances wide-ranging changes to restraint, out-of-state placement rules for children in care

The House Committee on Rules on June 11 adopted amendments to House Bill 3835A, a comprehensive measure that changes when and how restraint and seclusion may be used in child and adult care settings and creates new procedures for out‑of‑state placements of children in state care. The committee approved the A‑13 amendment and voted to send the bill, as amended, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The bill matters because it rewrites definitions that determine when physical restraint and involuntary seclusion are permitted, alters reporting and licensing requirements for providers, and creates new oversight and reporting tied to out‑of‑state placements — changes advocates say could widen or narrow protections for children depending on implementation.

Committee Vice Chair Pham moved to adopt the A‑13 amendment and the committee adopted it after roll call. The committee then voted to refer House Bill 3835A, as amended, to Ways and Means. Representative Anna Scharf, vice chair of the committee of origin, warned committee members the draft before them “is not an agreed bill by any parties,” said 36 questions by the House Human Services chair remained unanswered and urged caution before passage. She noted an earlier…