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Bill would require at least one nonviolent-crisis-trained staff member in every school and clarify parents' rights in special-education settings
Summary
House Bill 1285 would require each school building to have at least one employee trained in nonviolent crisis intervention, confirm parents’ right to record IEP and case-conference meetings, and bar schools from disposing of a student’s personal effects before a parent can recover them when a student withdraws or dies.
House Bill 1285 would require each school building to have at least one employee trained in nonviolent crisis intervention available during the school day, affirm a parent or guardian’s right to record Individualized Education Program (IEP) or case-conference meetings, and prohibit schools from disposing of a student’s personal items before a parent or guardian has had the opportunity to collect them if the student withdraws or dies.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Matt Cash, told the Senate Education and Career Development Committee the legislation seeks to better protect students with disabilities and to reduce or eliminate the use of seclusion rooms. He said some schools use small rooms—sometimes described as closets—for seclusion, and that an on-call trained staff member would help de-escalate situations and prevent prolonged use of those rooms.
Supporters from disability-advocacy organizations and school groups described key provisions. Tom Krishon, chief legal officer for The Arc of Indiana, said the group strongly supports the provisions confirming parents’ recording rights, the requirement to review and recommend nonviolent crisis intervention programs, and the provision requiring at least one trained staff member per building. Krishon told the committee recording can provide parents an accurate record, assist those who cannot attend in person and help accommodate disability-related needs. He said the bill’s prohibition on disposing of a deceased student’s belongings recognizes the sensitivity of that situation and does not interfere with law-enforcement searches.
Lisa Tanzel (Indiana School Boards Association) said the association had opposed the bill in its original form when it included mandatory cameras in special-education classrooms because of fiscal impacts, but that with cameras removed the association supports the current version of the bill.
Representative Cash said a camera-related grant program had been part of the bill in an earlier House version and had passed the House in 2024; that grant program is not in the current text before the Senate due to time constraints. He also said the Department of Education helped draft statutory language clarifying that chemical restraint is illegal in Indiana but kept the prohibition in the bill to avoid confusion.
Committee members asked how the requirement would work if the designated trained employee were absent. Representative Cash said many districts already train multiple staff members in nonviolent intervention; schools typically would designate more than one trained person (principals, nurses, deans) so that temporary absences would not place a school out of compliance.
The bill hearing concluded with the committee setting the bill aside for amendment and vote next week.
Votes on the bill were not taken at this hearing; Representative Cash will return for questions after outside testimony is completed and committee members have had a chance to review.
