Draft bill tightens rules on restraint and seclusion, bans chemical/mechanical/prone restraint

LESC staff presented a working draft titled "allowable responses to student behavior" that clarifies definitions of restraint and seclusion, prohibits specific practices and adds training and reporting requirements.

The draft would outlaw chemical restraint, mechanical restraint and prone restraint and require continuous line‑of‑sight supervision for any authorized seclusion. It also adds clarity about permissible physical interventions and instructs PED to specify related training and reporting within school safety plans. "The bill would amend existing law to clearly define restraint and seclusion practices in public schools, specifying which actions are permitted and which are prohibited," staff said.

Committee discussion focused on operational questions: how schools should document incidents when untrained individuals intervene in emergencies, whether covered staff should include school resource officers, how to treat nonverbal students (communication considerations), and whether some districts will need physical spaces or additional staff to meet line‑of‑sight monitoring requirements. Staff clarified these provisions would not apply to commissioned law enforcement officers or first responders; schools can train SROs or other staff as appropriate.

Members requested clearer definitions of terms ("emergency," "imminent danger"), more precise reporting templates, and attention to workload implications for teachers and administrators who would be required to document and report incidents. Staff said they will continue to revise language and consider operational guidance for districts.