This bill mandates that schools and treatment facilities report incidents of seclusion and restraint involving children to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), which will have oversight authority for these reports. Key provisions include the establishment of a confidential central reporting location for these incidents, the requirement for the OCA to provide independent review and oversight of all restraints and seclusions, and the agency's obligation to submit reports within five days of an incident. Additionally, the bill introduces new language that clarifies the definition of restraint, particularly in situations where a child is combative or self-injurious, and specifies that written notifications must be submitted to the designated reporting location.

To support the increased workload associated with these new reporting requirements, the bill establishes four classified positions within the OCA, including an Assistant Child Advocate and two Case Aides, along with a Children's Services Analyst. The bill appropriates necessary funds to cover the costs of these positions for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, while allowing the OCA to accept matching federal funds without prior approval from the fiscal committee. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-V:2, 21-V:4, 21-V:7, 126-U:1