On Tuesday, January 11, the Assembly Education Committee will hold a hearing on Assembly Bill (AB) 455. On Wednesday, January 11, the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on a bill with the same wording, Senate Bill (SB) 353. Both bills limit the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint on students in schools. The Committee members need to hear stories about the use of seclusion and restraints on students and how these bills will improve the safety and wellbeing of both students and staff.

Background
AB 455 and SB 353 limit the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint on students in schools. The bills allow seclusion and restraint only if the student’s behavior causes an immediate risk to the safety of the student or others and is the least restrictive intervention available. They will:

• Stop the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraints.
• Make students and staff safer because only trained staff will be allowed to use seclusion and restraint when it is appropriate.
• Require that parents are promptly informed that seclusion or restraints were used on their child.
• Require an IEP team meeting after the first use of seclusion and restraints on students receiving special education services to plan for positive behavioral interventions in the future.
• Require constant supervision of any secluded student. Also, the student must have access to bathrooms, drinking water, necessary medication, and meals.
• Require that any seclusion rooms be safe.
• Require school districts to keep data on the use of seclusion and restraint in their schools.

To view AB 455, go here. To view SB 353, go here.

Tell Your Story
Advocates can tell their story in-person at one or both of the hearings, or by e-mailing or calling members of the Committees directly.

The hearing by the Assembly Education Committee:
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
10:00 am
417 North
State Capitol

The hearing by the Senate Education Committee:
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
10:00 am
201 Southeast
State Capitol

A list of the members of the Assembly Education Committee and links to members' home pages can be found here. Links to Senate Education Committee members are here.