BILL REQ. #:  H-3495.1 

Read first time 01/22/14.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to making school district policies on restraint or isolation of certain students available to parents and guardians; amending RCW 28A.600.485; and repealing RCW 28A.155.210 and 28A.600.486.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.600.485 and 2013 c 202 s 2 are each amended 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 only to any restraint of a student who has an individualized education program or plan developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 that results in a physical injury to a student or a staff member, any restraint of a student who has an individualized education program or plan developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, and any isolation of a student who has an individualized education program or plan developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. The provisions of this section apply only to incidents of restraint or isolation that occur while a student who has an individualized education program or plan developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 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.
     (6) A copy of the school district policy regarding the use of restraint or isolation under this section and the procedures for notification of a parent or guardian regarding the use of restraint or isolation under this section must be made available to parents and guardians on the district web site, with a written copy provided on request.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 28A.155.210 (Use of restraint or isolation -- Requirement for procedures to notify parent or guardian) and 2013 c 202 s 3; and
     (2) RCW 28A.600.486 (District policy on the use of isolation and restraint -- Notice to parents and guardians of children who have individualized education programs or plans developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973) and 2013 c 202 s 4.