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Committee hears bill to clarify, restrict school restraint and seclusion; committee recommends 'do pass'
Summary
A bill to define and limit certain restraint and seclusion practices in public schools—prohibiting chemical, mechanical and prone restraint and tightening training and reporting—received broad support from disability advocates and the Public Education Department; the committee moved a 'do pass' recommendation.
House Bill 120, which would tighten definitions and limits on restraint and seclusion in public schools, drew supporter testimony and questions from senators before the committee moved a 'do pass' recommendation.
The bill would add specific definitions for chemical, mechanical and prone restraint; clarify terms such as de-escalation, elopement and less-restrictive interventions; require updates to school safety plans and aligned staff training; and expand reporting so incidents are tracked and reported to families. Sponsors said the measure resulted from a 2023–2024 working group convened under Senate Memorial 68 that included educators, parents, school leaders and state staff.
Advocates—including Ellen Pines of the Disability…
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