The Council for Exceptional Children announced on April 6, 2011 that legislation providing guidance and accountability for the use of restraint and seclusion in schools was reintroduce in the House of Representatives today.  CCBD with CEC led the way in drafting the language of this proposed legislation which passed the previous House by a bi-partisan vote.  The language just introduced is similar in content and has the support of CEC and CCBD.

CCBD encourages all members to TAKE ACTION! Through the Legislative Action Center link below and register your support for this important legislation.

The following article was Posted at 03:00 PM 04/06/2011 in CEC Legislative Action Center, Restraint and Seclusion, U.S. Congress | Permalink

Legislation Limiting Use of Restraint & Seclusion Reintroduced in the House

Today, Representative George Miller (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee in the House of Representatives reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act. This important legislation, which includes many of CEC’s and its division the Council for Children with Behavior Disorders (CCBD’s) recommendations, would limit the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools receiving federal dollars, except in cases of emergency.

CEC and CCBD have worked diligently with Congress on this legislation over the past few years and are pleased it has been reintroduced. Read CEC’s Letter of Support for the legislation here and a detailed description of legislation’s introduction in the last Congress here.

In May of 2009, CEC and CCBD member Reece Peterson, Ph.D., professor at the University of Nebraska, testified before the House Education and Labor Committee on the state of research and the appropriate use of restraint and seclusion. Following this, and several meetings held with the Administration and Congress, bipartisan legislation was introduced in December of 2009, co-sponsored by Mr. Miller and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA). In February of 2010, this legislation passed the House by a vote of 262-153. In describing the importance of the legislation, CEC and CCBD member and noted behavior expert, George Sugai stated, “creating safe, positive, preventive, and caring learning and teaching environments is important for maximizing success for all students in America’s schools.”

Unfortunately, companion legislation in the Senate did not receive the same support and the Senate never voted on this bill. Then, when the last session of Congress ended in December 2010, the bill lapsed and had to be reintroduced again this year.

The bill introduced today, H.R. 1381, is the exact same legislation which the House approved last year.  Due to the changing political environment, however, Representative McMorris-Rodgers did not agree to co-sponsor.

Our work continues!  Now that H.R.1381 has been reintroduced, it must be sent to the House Education and Workforce Committee and eventually the House floor for a vote. It is critical that you let your Representative know how important it is that he or she support H.R. 1381, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. Use our Legislative Action Center letter to urge your Representative to prevent and reduce inappropriate restraint and seclusion! Click here to TAKE ACTION!