BILL REQ. #:  H-1660.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to reporting of incidents of student restraint and isolation in public schools; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.155 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that preserving a safe and beneficial learning environment for all students requires the establishment and enforcement of appropriate student discipline policies. The legislature further finds that although physical restraint and isolation of a student should be avoided, there may be circumstances where school district boards of directors have authorized these actions to preserve the safety of other students and school staff. Nevertheless, if an incident of student restraint or isolation occurs, school personnel should be held accountable for providing a thorough explanation of the circumstances.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Isolation" means excluding a student from his or her regular instructional area and restricting the student alone within a room or any other form of enclosure, from which the student may not leave.
     (b) "Restraint" means physical intervention or force used to control a student, including the use of a restraint device.
     (c) "Restraint device" means a device used to assist in controlling a student, including but not limited to metal handcuffs, plastic ties, ankle restraints, leather cuffs, other hospital-type restraints, pepper spray, tasers, or batons.
     (2) The provisions of this section apply to any restraint of a student that results in a physical injury to a student or a staff member, any restraint of a duration longer than two minutes, and any isolation of a student. The provisions of this section apply to such incidents of restraint or isolation that occur while the student is participating in school-sponsored instruction or activities.
     (3) Following the release of a student from the use of restraint or isolation, the school must implement follow-up procedures. These procedures must include reviewing the incident with the student and the parent or guardian to address the behavior that precipitated the restraint or isolation and reviewing the incident with the staff member who administered the restraint or isolation to discuss whether proper procedures were followed.
     (4) Any school employee, resource officer, or school security officer who uses any chemical spray, mechanical restraint, or physical force on a student during school-sponsored instruction or activities must inform the building administrator or building administrator's designee as soon as possible, and within two business days submit a written report of the incident to the district office. The written report should include, at a minimum, the following information:
     (a) The date and time of the incident;
     (b) The name and job title of the individual who administered the restraint or isolation;
     (c) A description of the activity that led to the restraint or isolation;
     (d) The type of restraint or isolation used on the student, including the duration; and
     (e) Whether the student or staff was physically injured during the restraint or isolation and any medical care provided.
     (5) The principal or principal's designee must make a reasonable effort to verbally inform the student's parent or guardian within twenty-four hours of the incident, and must send written notification as soon as practical but postmarked no later than five business days after the restraint or isolation occurred. If the school or school district customarily provides the parent or guardian with school-related information in a language other than English, the written report under this section must be provided to the parent or guardian in that language.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.155 RCW to read as follows:
     A school that is required to develop an individual education plan as required by federal law must include within the plan procedures for notification of a parent or guardian regarding the use of restraint or isolation.