{"id":7170,"date":"2012-05-14T10:00:50","date_gmt":"2012-05-14T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/?p=7170"},"modified":"2012-07-11T16:23:33","modified_gmt":"2012-07-11T20:23:33","slug":"first-congressional-hearings-on-restraint-seclusion-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/first-congressional-hearings-on-restraint-seclusion-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressman Miller Urges Congress &#8211; &#8220;Protect Children from Abusive Restraint &#038; Seclusion&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_pop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/gallery\/share-button-gray.png\" style=\"border:0px\" alt=\"Share\" \/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_icon_type = \"labels\";var hupso_background=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_border=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_twitter_via=\"wrightslaw\";var hupso_url=\"\";var hupso_title=\"Congressman%20Miller%20Urges%20Congress%20-%20%22Protect%20Children%20from%20Abusive%20Restraint%20%26%20Seclusion%22\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div><p>On May 9, Congressman George Miller delivered a floor speech <strong>urging Congress to pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act<strong>, H.R. 1381<\/strong>,<\/strong> and protect children from abusive restraint and seclusion.<\/p>\n<p>Miller also rolled out a <a href=\"http:\/\/democrats.edworkforce.house.gov\/issue\/seclusion-restraint\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">new restraint\/seclusion webpage<\/span><\/a> and published a letter he had sent urging quick action on the bill.<\/p>\n<p>This week, Senators Tom Harkin and Michael Enzi, Chair and Ranking Member of the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, announced hearings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Senate Hearing: <del>May 17, 2012<\/del>,\u00a0<strong> <del>June 28, 2012,<\/del> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Re-scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2012, 10:30 AM.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong> <\/strong><strong>&#8220;Beyond Seclusion and Restraint:\u00a0 Creating Positive Learning Environments for All Students.&#8221;\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The hearings will be <strong>broadcast live<\/strong> at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/hearings\/\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">http:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/hearings\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 .\u00a0 Witnesses with strong expertise in the use of positive supports in place of restraint and seclusion are expected to testify.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Congressman George Miller, the senior Democrat on HELP, asked Committee Chairman Kline to move the bill forward to Committee mark up. Miller first introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act in 2009 and reintroduced it in 2011.\u00a0 The bill passed the House two years ago with bipartisan support.\u00a0 His leadership has been tremendous.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe cannot sit idly by,\u201d while children are subjected to abusive practices, Congressman Miller said.\u00a0 \u201cCongress must step up to the plate and protect our nation\u2019s children.\u201d\u00a0 Tens of thousands of children have been subjected to restraint and seclusion.<\/p>\n<p>Watch Congressman Miller\u2019s floor speech here:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pJU6NIKoH68&amp;list=UUqAHNOSUqn0OByR-4vF81FQ&amp;index=1&amp;feature=plpp_video\"> <span style=\"color: #000080;\">http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pJU6NIKoH68&amp;list=UUqAHNOSUqn0OByR-4vF81FQ&amp;index=1&amp;feature=plpp_video<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Congressman Miller also wrote to House Education &amp; Workforce Chair John Kline urging him to move the bill forward to a Committee mark up so Congress could act on it,\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/ltr.rest.secl.050312.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/ltr.rest.secl.050312.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The House Democrats also rolled out today a new webpage dedicated to fighting abusive restraint and seclusion: <a href=\"http:\/\/democrats.edworkforce.house.gov\/issue\/seclusion-restraint\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">http:\/\/democrats.edworkforce.house.gov\/issue\/seclusion-restraint<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Congressman Miller pointed out that a limited number of states have laws limiting restraint and seclusion.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>only 16 States limit the use of restraint to emergencies involving immediate risk of harm<\/li>\n<li>only 18 ban restraints that impede breathing<\/li>\n<li>only 24 require parental notification by law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Miller also described the recent death of 16 year old Corey Foster in physical restraint at the Leake and Watts school and the reports of restraint and seclusion in 31 states since 2010.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Senate Hearings Broadcast Live<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On Thursday,\u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><del>May 17, 2012<\/del>,\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><s>June 28, 2012<\/s>,<\/strong><\/span><\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Re-scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2012, 10:30 AM.<\/span><\/strong> Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Michael Enzi of the Senate HELP Committee will host a bipartisan hearing,\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/hearings\/\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">&#8220;Beyond Seclusion and Restraint:\u00a0 Creating Positive Learning Environments for All Students.&#8221;<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 The hearings will be broadcast live at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/hearings\/\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">http:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/hearings\/<\/span><\/a><a id=\"wit\" name=\"wit\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The hearing is the first Congressional hearing devoted to restraint and seclusion in this two year Congressional session. The Senate is currently considering the Keeping All Students Safe Act (S.2020) to protect students from restraint and seclusion, introduced by Senator Harkin in December 2011.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Expected witnesses include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dr. Daniel Crimmins, Director, Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University (Atlanta, Georgia.)\u00a0 Dr. Crimmins played a significant role in Georgia&#8217;s adoption of its 2010 regulation limiting restraint to emergency situations and banning seclusion in public schools throughout the state and in the Georgia network of educational and therapeutic support programs, 24 programs located throughout Georgia serving students with severe social, emotional, and behavioral needs.\u00a0 Through this regulation and other actions, Georgia has demonstrated that a culture of positive supports and interventions has resulted in a safer environment for students and staff.<\/li>\n<li>Ms. Cyndi Pitonyak, Coordinator of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Montgomery County Public Schools (Christiansburg, Virginia.) For 20 years, Montgomery County Public Schools has used a fully inclusive model of instruction for all students with a strong emphasis on positive behavioral interventions on a school-wide\/district-wide basis.<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Michael George, Director, Centennial School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania).\u00a0 The Centennial School has been a national leader over the last decade in the use of positive behavioral Interventions and supports for students with disabilities.\u00a0 Use of restraints and seclusion has declined from well over 1,000 occurrences per year to less than ten.\u00a0 Centennial serves over 35 school districts and provides education for students with the most significant emotional, social, and behavioral needs. The Centennial School&#8217;s approach has been featured in the national news media.<\/li>\n<li>Ms. Deborah (Debbie) Jackson, parent (Easton, Pennsylvania).\u00a0 Ms. Jackson is the parent of a child who attended Centennial School for two and a half years, benefitting from its positive approach and recently transitioning back to a neighborhood school.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Both Senator Harkin and Congressman Miller have been tremendous leaders in seeking national legislation to protect the 55 million American children from restraint and seclusion.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Their two bills would protect children from dangerous restraint and seclusion through multiple provisions.\u00a0 Restraint would be prohibited except in the event of an emergency posing harm of significant physical danger.<\/p>\n<p>The House bill would limit seclusion the same way; the Senate bill would ban it.<\/p>\n<p>Both bills will also ban restraint that impedes breathing and chemical and mechanical restraints.\u00a0 Both bills will require schools to take steps to notify parents on the day when their child is subjected to abusive procedures.<\/p>\n<p>More than half of the states do not have laws requiring parental notification.<\/p>\n<p>Jessica Butler<br \/>\nCongressional Affairs Coordinator<br \/>\nAutism National Committee\u00a0 (AutCom)<br \/>\n22 years of advocating for children and adults with autism and related disabilities<br \/>\nemail: <a href=\"mailto:jessica@jnba.net\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">jessica@jnba.net<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.autcom.org\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">www.autcom.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Find more information and resources on the Wrightslaw page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/abuse.index.htm\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Abuse, Restraints and Seclusion in School<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rollcall.com\/issues\/57_134\/Gregg_Harper_Restraint_Guidelines_Endanger_Children-214458-1.html?pos=oopih\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Restraint Guidelines Endanger Children<\/span><\/a> &#8211; from Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), co-sponsor of the House Bill H.R. 1381 and a staunch supporter of the need to take action that Keeps All Students Safe in schools.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On May 9, Congressman George Miller delivered a floor speech urging Congress to pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act, H.R. 1381, and protect children from abusive restraint and seclusion. <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/first-congressional-hearings-on-restraint-seclusion-live\/\">Continue Reading \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92,1276],"tags":[923,926,925,637,636,894,924],"class_list":["post-7170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-restraints","category-seclusion","tag-congressman-george-miller","tag-corey-foster","tag-h-r-1381","tag-keeping-all-students-safe-act","tag-restraint-and-seclusion","tag-s-2020","tag-senator-tom-harkin"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7170"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7192,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7170\/revisions\/7192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}