A seclusion and restraint bill is being circulated among members of the state legislature to see if they want to co-sponsor it. Legislators have until Friday, December 23, to sign on in support and have their names printed as sponsors on the bill.

The bill was authored by Sen. Luther Olsen and Rep. Steve Kestell and would prohibit seclusion and restraint of students in public schools unless the student’s behavior poses a clear, present, and immediate risk to the physical safety of the student or others and it is the least restrictive intervention available. Other measures in the bill include:

• If seclusion is used, it must be for only as long as necessary, and the student must remain under constant supervision in a room that is not locked. The student must have access to a bathroom, drinking water, necessary medication, and meals.
• Physical restraint of a student can only be used for the same reasons as seclusion. Force can only be used when a safety risk is involved. Restraint cannot be used if it puts the student in danger.
• Mechanical or chemical restraints cannot be used.
• Whenever seclusion or physical restraint is used, the school principal must notify the student’s family and prepare a written report.
• The person applying seclusion or restraint must be trained unless it is an emergency situation.

Disability Rights Wisconsin, the state's protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities, recently issued a press release urging bi-partisan support for this legislation.

Please contact both your state senator and state representative to voice your opinion on this bill if this is an issue that concerns you. If you’re not sure who your legislators are, go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.