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125A.0942 STANDARDS FOR RESTRICTIVE PROCEDURES.

Subdivision 1.Restrictive procedures plan.

Schools that intend to use restrictive procedures shall maintain and make publicly accessible a restrictive procedures plan for children that includes at least the following:

(1) the list of restrictive procedures the school intends to use;

(2) how the school will monitor and review the use of restrictive procedures, including conducting post-use debriefings and convening an oversight committee; and

(3) a written description and documentation of the training staff completed under subdivision 5.

Subd. 2.Restrictive procedures.

(a) Restrictive procedures may be used only by a licensed special education teacher, school social worker, school psychologist, behavior analyst certified by the National Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a person with a master's degree in behavior analysis, other licensed education professional, paraprofessional under section 120B.363, or mental health professional under section 245.4871, subdivision 27, who has completed the training program under subdivision 5.

(b) A school shall make reasonable efforts to notify the parent on the same day a restrictive procedure is used on the child, or if the school is unable to provide same-day notice, notice is sent within two days by written or electronic means or as otherwise indicated by the child's parent under paragraph (d).

(c) When restrictive procedures are used twice in 30 days or when a pattern emerges and restrictive procedures are not included in a child's individualized education program or behavior intervention plan, the district must hold a meeting of the individualized education program team, conduct or review a functional behavioral analysis, review data, consider developing additional or revised positive behavioral interventions and supports, consider actions to reduce the use of restrictive procedures, and modify the individualized education program or behavior intervention plan as appropriate. At the meeting, the team must review any known medical or psychological limitations that contraindicate the use of a restrictive procedure, consider whether to prohibit that restrictive procedure, and document any prohibition in the individualized education program or behavior intervention plan.

(d) An individualized education program team may plan for using restrictive procedures and may include these procedures in a child's individualized education program or behavior intervention plan; however, the restrictive procedures may be used only in response to behavior that constitutes an emergency, consistent with this section. The individualized education program or behavior intervention plan shall indicate how the parent wants to be notified when a restrictive procedure is used.

Subd. 3.Physical holding or seclusion.

Physical holding or seclusion may be used only in an emergency. A school that uses physical holding or seclusion shall meet the following requirements:

(1) the physical holding or seclusion must be the least intrusive intervention that effectively responds to the emergency;

(2) physical holding or seclusion must end when the threat of harm ends and the staff determines that the child can safely return to the classroom or activity;

(3) staff must directly observe the child while physical holding or seclusion is being used;

(4) each time physical holding or seclusion is used, the staff person who implements or oversees the physical holding or seclusion shall document, as soon as possible after the incident concludes, the following information:

(i) a description of the incident that led to the physical holding or seclusion;

(ii) why a less restrictive measure failed or was determined by staff to be inappropriate or impractical;

(iii) the time the physical holding or seclusion began and the time the child was released; and

(iv) a brief record of the child's behavioral and physical status;

(5) the room used for seclusion must:

(i) be at least six feet by five feet;

(ii) be well lit, well ventilated, adequately heated, and clean;

(iii) have a window that allows staff to directly observe a child in seclusion;

(iv) have tamperproof fixtures, electrical switches located immediately outside the door, and secure ceilings;

(v) have doors that open out and are unlocked, locked with keyless locks that have immediate release mechanisms, or locked with locks that have immediate release mechanisms connected with a fire and emergency system; and

(vi) not contain objects that a child may use to injure the child or others;

(6) before using a room for seclusion, a school must:

(i) receive written notice from local authorities that the room and the locking mechanisms comply with applicable building, fire, and safety codes; and

(ii) register the room with the commissioner, who may view that room; and

(7) until August 1, 2012, a school district may use prone restraints under the following conditions:

(i) a district has provided to the department a list of staff who have had specific training on the use of prone restraints;

(ii) a district provides information on the type of training that was provided and by whom;

(iii) prone restraints may only be used by staff who have received specific training;

(iv) each incident of the use of prone restraints is reported to the department within five working days on a form provided by the department or on a district's restrictive procedure documentation form; and

(v) a district, prior to using prone restraints, must review any known medical or psychological limitations that contraindicate the use of prone restraints.

The department will report back to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over education policy by February 1, 2012, on the use of prone restraints in the schools.

Subd. 4.Prohibitions.

The following actions or procedures are prohibited:

(1) engaging in conduct prohibited under section 121A.58;

(2) requiring a child to assume and maintain a specified physical position, activity, or posture that induces physical pain;

(3) totally or partially restricting a child's senses as punishment;

(4) presenting an intense sound, light, or other sensory stimuli using smell, taste, substance, or spray as punishment;

(5) denying or restricting a child's access to equipment and devices such as walkers, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and communication boards that facilitate the child's functioning, except when temporarily removing the equipment or device is needed to prevent injury to the child or others or serious damage to the equipment or device, in which case the equipment or device shall be returned to the child as soon as possible;

(6) interacting with a child in a manner that constitutes sexual abuse, neglect, or physical abuse under section 626.556;

(7) withholding regularly scheduled meals or water;

(8) denying access to bathroom facilities; and

(9) physical holding that restricts or impairs a child's ability to breathe.

Subd. 5.Training for staff.

(a) To meet the requirements of subdivision 1, staff who use restrictive procedures shall complete training in the following skills and knowledge areas:

(1) positive behavioral interventions;

(2) communicative intent of behaviors;

(3) relationship building;

(4) alternatives to restrictive procedures, including techniques to identify events and environmental factors that may escalate behavior;

(5) de-escalation methods;

(6) standards for using restrictive procedures;

(7) obtaining emergency medical assistance;

(8) the physiological and psychological impact of physical holding and seclusion;

(9) monitoring and responding to a child's physical signs of distress when physical holding is being used; and

(10) recognizing the symptoms of and interventions that may cause positional asphyxia when physical holding is used.

(b) The commissioner, after consulting with the commissioner of human services, must develop and maintain a list of training programs that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a). The district shall maintain records of staff who have been trained and the organization or professional that conducted the training. The district may collaborate with children's community mental health providers to coordinate trainings.

Subd. 6.Behavior supports.

School districts are encouraged to establish effective schoolwide systems of positive behavior interventions and supports. Nothing in this section or section 125A.0941 precludes the use of reasonable force under sections 121A.582; 609.06, subdivision 1; and 609.379.

NOTE: This section, as added by Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 3, section 11, is effective August 1, 2011. Laws 2009, chapter 96, article 3, section 11, the effective date.

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Revisor of Statutes