Bill > HB1688

This bill modifies existing law regarding the use of restraint and seclusion of children in schools and treatment facilities by making several key changes. First, the bill alters the definition of seclusion to include involuntary separation from a stressful environment, which allows for more flexibility in managing children in challenging situations, while still ensuring the child can leave the area and is not physically barred from doing so. Second, the bill modifies the circumstances under which restraint can be used, removing the qualifiers "substantial" and "serious" from the language about bodily harm, which effectively broadens the conditions where restraint is permissible. Specifically, restraint can now be used when there is an imminent risk of bodily harm to the child or others, including situations where a child's continued acts of violence might create a risk of bodily harm. The bill emphasizes that restraint should only be used by trained personnel as a last resort, after other interventions have failed or been deemed inappropriate. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage, giving schools and facilities time to adjust to the new guidelines.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1979&inflect=2