HB1538 Summary

• Establishes strict conditions for room confinement of minors in juvenile detention or adult jail facilities, limiting use to situations where behavior poses immediate danger to self/others or creates serious threat to facility safety, or when minor is imminent escape risk.

• Restricts room confinement duration to maximum of 3 hours unless the on-call judge grants extension of up to 3 additional hours; requires family court hearing on next business day if confinement exceeds 3 hours, with legal representation provided to minor.

• Mandates that less restrictive options including de-escalation and behavioral management techniques must be attempted and exhausted before room confinement is used; prohibits use for punishment, discipline, coercion, convenience, retaliation, or addressing staffing shortages.

• Requires notification on next business day to senior judge, presiding judge, deputy chief court administrator, and social services manager when minor is placed in room confinement, including reasons and duration.

• Establishes minimum conditions for confinement rooms including adequate lighting, ventilation, cleanliness, and resistance to suicide/self-harm; ensures minors retain access to water, hygiene supplies, meals, parental contact, legal assistance, education, medical/mental health services, and continuous staff monitoring.