The bill amends the Human Services Code to establish new standards for ensuring safe and humane institutional practices for children in facilities. It introduces a new section, Section 724.1, which mandates that restrictive procedures, such as chemical restraints, manual restraints, mechanical restraints, seclusion, exclusion, strip searches, and body cavity searches, should only be employed as a last resort to protect children from immediate physical harm. The bill emphasizes that these procedures cannot be used for punishment or administrative convenience and outlines the responsibilities of the department to maintain safe care, conduct inspections, and investigate allegations of inhumane treatment.

Additionally, the bill requires facilities to adopt evidence-based practices, provide staff training, and ensure access to quality education for children. It also mandates the department to publish monthly reports detailing the use of seclusion, restraints, and invasive searches, disaggregated by various demographic factors. The bill aims to enhance accountability and transparency in the treatment of children in institutional settings, ensuring their rights and well-being are prioritized.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1864 (Jun 09, 2025): P.L.31, No.21
Printer's No. 2098 (Jul 08, 2025): P.L.31, No.21