Bill > HB1384

This bill establishes strict guidelines for the use of room confinement in juvenile treatment facilities, emphasizing that children cannot be confined for disciplinary purposes or due to administrative conveniences. The legislation requires staff to first attempt less restrictive techniques to de-escalate situations involving serious and immediate physical risk, such as verbal communication with the child or consultation with a mental health professional. When room confinement is deemed absolutely necessary, the bill mandates specific time limits: three hours for children posing a risk to others and thirty minutes for children at risk to themselves. If a child continues to pose a risk after the time limit, a licensed healthcare practitioner must determine whether continued confinement or alternative treatment like psychiatric hospitalization is appropriate. The bill also prohibits consecutive periods of room confinement and requires that the child's attorney be notified by the next business day if room confinement occurs. Importantly, the law defines room confinement as involuntary placement of a child alone in a cell or room and emphasizes that it should only be used as a temporary measure to prevent immediate physical harm. The legislation will take effect 60 days after its passage, providing juvenile facilities time to adjust their practices to these new, more protective standards.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1384