(1) To adopt rules concerning the following:

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(B) The prevention of the use of types of restraint or seclusion that may harm a student, a school employee, a school volunteer, or the educational environment of the school.

(C) Requirements for notifying parents.

(D) Training regarding the use of restraint and seclusion, including the frequency of training and what employees must be trained.

(E) The distribution of the seclusion and restraint policy to parents and the public.

(F) Requirements for the reporting of incidents of restraint and seclusion in the annual school performance report, including incidents of restraint and seclusion involving school resource officers (as defined in IC 20-26-18.2-1).

(G) Circumstances that may require more timely incident reporting and the requirements for such reporting.

(2) To develop, maintain, and revise a model restraint and seclusion plan for schools that includes the following elements:

(A) A statement on how students will be treated with dignity and respect and how appropriate student behavior will be promoted and taught.

(B) A statement ensuring that the school will use prevention, positive behavior intervention and support, and conflict de-escalation to eliminate or minimize the need for use of any of the following:

(i) Seclusion.

(ii) Chemical restraint.

(iii) Mechanical restraint.

(iv) Physical restraint.

(v) Time-out.

(C) A statement ensuring that any behavioral intervention used will be consistent with the student’s most current behavioral intervention plan, or individualized education program, if applicable.

(D) Definitions for restraint and seclusion, as defined in this chapter.

(E) A statement ensuring that if a procedure listed in clause (B) is used, the procedure will be used:

(i) as a last resort safety procedure, employed only after another, less restrictive procedure has been implemented without success; and

(ii) in a situation in which there is an imminent risk of injury to the student, other students, school employees, or visitors to the school.

(F) An indication that restraint or seclusion may be used only for a short time period, or until the imminent risk of injury has passed.

(G) A documentation and recording requirement governing instances in which procedures listed in clause (B) are used, including:

(i) how every incident will be documented and debriefed;

(ii) how responsibilities will be assigned to designated employees for evaluation and oversight; and

(iii) designation of a school employee to be the keeper of such documents.

(H) A requirement that the student’s parent must be notified as soon as possible when an incident involving the student occurs that includes use of procedures listed in clause (B).

(I) A requirement that a copy of an incident report must be sent to the student’s parent after the student is subject to a procedure listed in clause (B).

(J) Required recurrent training for appropriate school employees on the appropriate use of effective alternatives to physical restraint and seclusion, including the use of positive behavioral intervention and support and conflict de-escalation. The training must include the safe use of physical restraint and seclusion in incidents involving imminent danger or serious harm to the student, school employees, or others. Consideration must be given to available school resources and the time commitments of school employees.

(3) To accept and review reports from the public and make nonbinding recommendations to the department of any suggested action to be taken.

(4) To biannually provide a report to the state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities appointed under IC 20-35-3-1 regarding the:

(A) execution of the commission’s duties under this section; and

(B) review of incident reports under section 13.6 of this chapter.

     (b) The model policy developed by the commission must take into consideration that implementation and reporting requirements for state accredited nonpublic schools may vary, and the model plan must provide state accredited nonpublic schools flexibility with regards to accountability under and implementation of the plan adopted by a state accredited nonpublic school under section 14 of this chapter.

     (c) The commission will assist the department in enabling training required by this section to be provided after June 30, 2024, through the online platform established or licensed for use under IC 20-19-3-29, if the online platform is established.

As added by P.L.122-2013, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.227-2017, SEC.2; P.L.92-2020, SEC.22; P.L.11-2023, SEC.62; P.L.250-2023, SEC.9; P.L.162-2024, SEC.5.