Bill Text: NJ A501 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Establishes certain requirements for use of restraint and seclusion on students with disabilities in school districts, educational services commissions, and approved private schools for students with disabilities.*

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-08 - Substituted by S1163 (2R) [A501 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-A501-Introduced.html

---

ASSEMBLY, No. 501

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  DAVID C. RUSSO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)

Assemblyman  JOHN J. BURZICHELLI

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes certain requirements for use of physical restraint on students with disabilities in school districts and approved private schools for students with disabilities.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning the use of physical restraint on students with disabilities and supplementing chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    A school district or an approved private school for students with disabilities that utilizes physical restraint on students with disabilities shall ensure that:

     a.     a student is not restrained in the prone position, unless a physician authorizes the use of this restraint technique;

     b.    staff members who are involved in the restraint of a student receive training in safe techniques for physical restraint and that the training is updated at least annually; and

     c.     the parent or guardian of a student is immediately notified when physical restraint is used on that student, which notification may be by telephone or electronic communication.  A full written report of the incident of physical restraint shall be provided to the parent or guardian within 24 hours of the occurrence of the incident.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires a school district or an approved private school for students with disabilities that chooses to utilize physical restraint on students with disabilities to ensure that:

·      a student is not restrained in the prone position unless a physician authorizes the use of this restraint technique;

·      staff members who are involved in the restraint of a student receive training in safe techniques for physical restraint.  This training must be updated at least annually; and

·      the parent or guardian of a student is immediately notified by telephone or through some means of electronic communication when physical restraint has been used on the student.  A full written report of the incident must be provided to the parent or guardian within 24 hours of the occurrence of the incident.