Bill > HR6617

This bill, the Keeping All Students Safe Act, aims to prohibit and prevent the use of seclusion, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and dangerous restraints that restrict breathing in schools, while also reducing the use of physical restraint. It defines these terms, with "chemical restraint" being a drug or medication used for behavior control that isn't a prescribed medical treatment, "mechanical restraint" involving devices to restrict movement, "physical restraint" as a personal restriction that immobilizes or limits movement (excluding physical escorts, mechanical, or chemical restraints), and "seclusion" as involuntary confinement alone in a room from which a student cannot leave. The bill establishes that unlawful seclusion or restraint includes these methods, as well as physical restraint that is life-threatening, restricts breathing or blood flow, is medically contraindicated, or is not used according to specific safety requirements. It allows for a "time out" as a behavior management technique involving separation in a non-locked setting, but not seclusion. The bill mandates that schools receiving federal funding must adhere to these prohibitions, requiring trained personnel for any necessary physical restraint, which must be a last resort for imminent danger and end immediately when the danger ceases. It also requires prompt notification to parents after any restraint incident and a subsequent meeting to discuss prevention strategies, including the potential need for behavioral assessments and plans for students with disabilities. Furthermore, the bill requires states to develop plans to monitor and enforce these provisions, and it authorizes grants to help states implement these requirements, improve data collection on restraint incidents, and promote positive behavioral interventions and supports. A national assessment will be conducted to evaluate the Act's effectiveness, and protection and advocacy systems will be involved in cases of student injury or death related to these interventions. The bill also applies to schools operated or funded by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense, with specific provisions for private schools and home schools.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6617/all-info