Bill > HB455

This bill addresses the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, establishing comprehensive guidelines to protect students from potentially harmful confinement practices. The bill defines key terms like mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and seclusion, and prohibits specific restraint techniques that could endanger a student's health, such as those that obstruct breathing, compress the chest, or impair circulation. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the bill will completely ban the use of seclusion on students. The legislation requires school districts to develop written policies that comprehensively address restrictive behavioral interventions, including detailed documentation requirements for any instances of restraint. Schools must annually train personnel on these techniques, and each time restraint is used, a comprehensive report must be completed and shared with parents within five school days. The bill also protects individuals who report violations of these policies from retaliation and mandates that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education compile and maintain data on such incidents, ensuring transparency and accountability in student management practices.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB455&year=2025&code=R