U.S. House floor debate anticipated this week on H.R. 4247: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

Wrightslaw, the special education web resource, made an announcement on their Facebook page on March 1, 2010 that

H.R. 4247:Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

is anticipated to come to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives floor THIS WEEK.

The alert links to an info sheet prepared by Jessie Butler, Esq. of the the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA), advising stakeholders on the interpretation of H.R. 4247, and how to contact members of the U.S. Congress by phone or email.

In a similar action alert citing a behavior-analytic practice point of view, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) urged their members to also contact Congress and referred to,

APBA Position Statement on Restraint and Seclusion

Support for APBA Position Statement on Restraint and Seclusion

At the current time ABA International has convened a task force on restraint and seclusion  which is developing a position statement; this statement would be, as with other ABA International position statements, subject to review and approval by vote of the ABA International Full members.

Progress of H.R. 4247 is dependent on what action is taken in the House, but it has been anticipated that if it passes in that chamber, that a conference committee would work to consolidate proposals within H.R. 4247 and those within S. 2860: Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate and is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

For further information:
H.R.4247: To prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Miller, George [CA-7] (introduced 12/9/2009)      Cosponsors (40)

S.2860 : A bill to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 12/9/2009)      Cosponsors (None)

Past blog post (with run-down on events to introduction and committee passage of H.R. 4247)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Federal Legislation: U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor passes bill to regulate use of restraint and seclusion in U.S. schools

Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 2 | On-line ISSN: 2151-4704
ABAI Practice Board
(About 3/4 of the way down the page.)

"Position Statements
The ABAI Council assembles task forces to study critical issues within the field and to develop white papers for submittal to the Association' s Full Members for input and votes. Most recently, a task force on seclusion and restraint has been formed, with joint participation of the Science and Practice Boards. The task force will develop and recommend a position statement on the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint for consideration by ABAI Full Members. Participants in the task force include Jon Bailey, Michael F. Dorsey, Louis P. Hagopian, Gregory P. Hanley, David B. Lennox, Mary M. Riordan, Scott Spreat, and Timothy R. Vollmer. "

© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
Disclaimer: This blog publishes news and announcements only as a service to interested persons, the posts are the responsibility of the individual author, and unless otherwise noted do not constitute nor claim to represent the official position of ABA International, its officers or associated entities. This blog makes no representation as to the accuracy of the report and readers are strongly encouraged to consult and reference the primary sources noted.