HB 17-1276

HB 17-1276, a Colorado law that's now signed into effect, aims to protect students by banning the use of chemical, mechanical, or prone restraints on public school students, with some exceptions. If an employee uses any kind of restraint, they must report it within one day. Schools are required to review these incidents annually and create rules for parents and students to complain about improper use of restraints. This means that schools can no longer freely restrain students without facing scrutiny and consequences if the restraints were used improperly or excessively.

Official Summary

With certain exceptions, the bill prohibits the use of a chemical, mechanical, or prone restraint upon a public school student. Each school district shall require any school employee or volunteer who uses any type of restraint on a student to submit a written report of the incident to the administration of the school not later than one school day after the incident occurred. The bill requires each school district to establish a review process, conduct the review process at least annually, and document the results of each review process in writing. Each annual review process must include a review of each incident in which restraint was used on a student during the preceding year. The bill requires the state board of education to promulgate rules on or before November 1, 2017, establishing a process by which a student or a parent or legal guardian of a student may formally complain about the use of restraint or seclusion by any employee or volunteer of any school, charter school, or institute charter school. The bill requires each school district and the state charter school institute to include in its conduct and discipline code information concerning the school district's or institute's policies for the use of restraint and seclusion on students, including information concerning the process for filing a complaint regarding the use of restraint or seclusion. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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