House Bill No. by Representative Mack seeks to amend existing laws concerning the management of students with exceptionalities, specifically focusing on the prohibition of seclusion and seclusion rooms in public schools. The bill introduces new definitions and guidelines for crisis intervention and physical restraint, stipulating that such measures should only be employed as a last resort and by trained personnel. Additionally, it mandates the installation of cameras in special education classrooms to improve monitoring and accountability, ensuring a safer learning environment for these students.

The legislation also establishes comprehensive reporting and documentation requirements following incidents of physical restraint. School employees are required to prepare detailed incident reports, including the circumstances leading to the restraint and any prior interventions attempted. Parents or guardians must be notified on the same day of the incident, and a school health designee is mandated to assess the student for any injuries. The bill reduces the threshold for reviewing a student's intervention plan from five to three occurrences of restraint and requires public school governing authorities to submit guidelines on physical restraint to the state Department of Education annually. Overall, the bill aims to prioritize the rights and safety of students with exceptionalities while providing clear guidelines for educators.

Statutes affected:
HB237 Original: 17:7(5), 17:1(B)(3), 17:1948(A), 17:3996(B)(29), 17:1948(G), 17:3911(B)(4)