LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S CHAPTER
SIGNATURE
453
JULY 13, 2021 PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 1007 - L.D. 1373
An Act To Keep All Maine Students Safe by Restricting the Use of Seclusion
and Restraint in Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4014 is enacted to read:
§4014. Use of seclusion and physical restraint
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Chemical restraint" means a drug or medication that is not prescribed as the
standard treatment of a student's medical or psychiatric condition by a licensed
physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the
professional's authority under state law that is used on a student to control behavior or
restrict freedom of movement.
B. "Covered entity" means an entity that owns, operates or controls a school or
educational program that receives public funds from the department, including, but not
limited to, public schools, public regional programs, public charter schools, private
schools, private schools approved for tuition purposes, special purpose private schools,
career and technical education programs, public prekindergarten programs and
providers of services pursuant to the provisions of the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, Parts B and C, 20 United States Code, Section 1401 et seq.
(2015).
C. "Mechanical restraint" means the use of a device to restrict a student's freedom of
movement.
D. "Physical escort" means the temporary, voluntary touching or holding of the hand,
wrist, arm, shoulder or back to induce a student to walk to a safe location.
E. "Physical prompt" means a teaching technique that involves voluntary physical
contact with a student that enables the student to learn or model the physical movement
necessary for the development of a desired competency.
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 F. "Physical restraint" means a personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the
ability of a student to move the arms, legs or head freely. "Physical restraint" does not
include a physical escort, mechanical restraint, physical prompt or chemical restraint.
G. "Seclusion" means the involuntary isolation or confinement of a student alone in a
room or clearly defined area from which the student does not feel free to go or is
physically denied exit. "Seclusion" does not include a timeout.
H. "Timeout" means an intervention where a student requests or complies with an
adult request for a break. Timeout is not seclusion.
I. "Unlawful restraint or seclusion" means:
(1) Mechanical restraint;
(2) Chemical restraint;
(3) Physical restraint or physical escort that is life-threatening, restricts breathing
or restricts blood flow to the brain, including prone restraint; or
(4) Physical restraint or seclusion that is contraindicated based on Title 34-B,
section 3003 or section 15002 or the student's disability or health care needs or
medical or psychiatric condition as documented in:
(a) A health care directive or medical management plan;
(b) A behavior intervention plan;
(c) An individual education plan or an individual family service plan as
defined in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 United
States Code, Section 1401 et seq. (2015); or
(d) A plan developed pursuant to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29
United States Code, Section 794 (2015) or the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, Title II, 42 United States Code, Section 12131 et seq.
(2009).
"Unlawful restraint or seclusion" does not include a physical escort except as provided
in subparagraph (3), a physical prompt, the use of adaptive devices or mechanical
supports to achieve proper body position, balance or alignment to allow greater
freedom of movement than would be possible without the use of such devices or
supports or the use of vehicle safety restraints when used as intended during the
transport of a student in a moving vehicle.
2. Prohibition on unlawful restraint and seclusion; restriction on use of physical
restraint and seclusion. A covered entity that receives state or federal assistance may not
subject a student to unlawful restraint or seclusion. A covered entity may use physical
restraint or seclusion only if:
A. The student's behavior poses an imminent danger of serious physical injury to the
student or another person;
B. Less restrictive interventions would be ineffective in stopping imminent danger of
serious physical injury to the student or another person;
C. The physical restraint or seclusion ends immediately upon the cessation of
imminent danger of serious physical injury to the student or another person; and
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 D. The least amount of force necessary is used to protect the student or another person
from imminent danger of serious physical injury.
3. Report on data regarding the use of physical restraint and seclusion. Each
covered entity shall submit to the department an annual report on incidents of physical
restraint and seclusion of students of that covered entity that includes:
A. The aggregate number of uses of physical restraint;
B. The aggregate number of uses of seclusion;
C. The aggregate number of students placed in physical restraint;
D. The aggregate number of students placed in seclusion;
E. The aggregate number of students with disabilities and an individualized education
program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 United States
Code, Section 1401 et seq. (2015) or a plan pursuant to the federal Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, 29 United States Code, Section 701 et seq. placed in physical restraint;
F. The aggregate number of students with disabilities and an individualized education
program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 United States
Code, Section 1401 et seq. (2015) or a plan pursuant to the federal Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, 29 United States Code, Section 701 et seq. placed in seclusion;
G. The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to students related to physical
restraint;
H. The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to students related to seclusion;
I. The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to staff related to physical
restraint; and
J. The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to staff related to seclusion.
4. Technical assistance. The department shall, using existing resources, provide
technical assistance to covered entities by developing, implementing and providing
technical assistance to support evidence-based programs that reduce the likelihood of
physical restraint or seclusion, and support students in reducing behavior that can result in
physical restraint or seclusion, such as developmentally appropriate, positive behavior
interventions, functional behavioral interventions, mental health supports, restorative
justice programs, trauma-informed care and crisis and de-escalation interventions.
5. Rules. The department shall adopt or amend rules to carry out the purposes of this
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
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