Bill > HB1795

This bill aims to enhance student safety in public schools and educational programs by restricting the use of certain restraint and isolation practices. It clarifies that chemical restraint (using drugs to control behavior or movement, unless medically prescribed and administered), mechanical restraint (using devices to restrict movement, with exceptions for prescribed medical devices or safety restraints during transport), and physical restraint that restricts breathing or blood flow are prohibited. The bill also defines "isolation" as confining a student alone in an enclosed space from which they cannot leave, with exceptions for voluntary quiet spaces for self-calming, temporary removal to an unlocked area for behavior plans, or brief separations within a classroom for privacy concerns that still allow for monitoring. It mandates that any use of restraint or isolation must be an immediate response to a spontaneous behavior posing a serious risk of harm to the student or others, and requires follow-up procedures including incident reviews with the student, parents, and staff, as well as detailed reporting to the school district and the state superintendent of public instruction, with data to be published annually for trend analysis. Furthermore, it prohibits the creation of new rooms specifically for student isolation and requires schools to provide parents with their policies on restraint and isolation when developing individualized education programs or plans.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1795&Year=2025&Initiative=false