The bill seeks to enhance student safety in public schools by prohibiting harmful practices such as chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, and isolation, while establishing clear definitions for these terms. It emphasizes that physical restraint should only be used to prevent imminent harm and mandates increased staff training to improve accountability regarding the use of these practices. Key provisions include the prohibition of interventions like chemical restraint and corporal punishment, particularly when contraindicated by a student's health or educational plans. The bill also outlines strict criteria for the use of physical restraint and isolation, particularly for younger students, requiring recommendations from licensed health professionals and parental consent.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for monitoring and reporting on the use of isolation and restraint, including annual reviews of policies by school district boards and mandatory training for board members every four years. It establishes comprehensive follow-up procedures after incidents of restraint or isolation, including timely notifications to parents and the creation of incident reports. The legislation also emphasizes trauma-informed practices and mandates training for paraeducators in recognizing student distress. Furthermore, it allocates funding for demonstration projects to support students in crisis and requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to monitor compliance and report on outcomes. The bill repeals existing legislation related to professional development for managing disruptive students and stipulates that it is null and void without specific funding by June 30, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.600.485, 28A.600.486, 28A.155.210, 28A.320.127, 28A.320.125, 28A.410.270, 28A.155.250, 28A.415.330