The proposed bill amends the Human Services Code to establish standards for ensuring safe and humane institutional practices for children in facilities. It introduces a new section, Section 724.1, which outlines that restrictive procedures, such as chemical restraints, manual restraints, mechanical restraints, seclusion, exclusion, strip searches, and body cavity searches, should only be used 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 mandates that inappropriate use will lead to investigations and potential license revocation for facilities.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department to set standards for facilities, including prohibitions on the use of restrictive procedures unless necessary for safety, and mandates regular inspections and investigations of allegations of unsafe care. It also establishes a grievance process for children and their families to report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation. The Department is tasked with publishing monthly reports on the use of seclusion, restraints, and searches, ensuring transparency and accountability in the treatment of children in institutional settings. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

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