IL HB5326

Requires Equip for Equality, Illinois's federally-designated protection and advocacy system, to establish an independent monitoring team to oversee the use of time out and physical restraint in schools and programs.

Directs the monitoring team to work with the State Board of Education to develop criteria for selecting schools for onsite monitoring, establish protocols for gathering data, and determine reporting frequency and format to the State Board.

Mandates that Equip for Equality submit annual reports to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Superintendent of Education regarding monitoring findings.

Establishes legislative findings that isolated time out and physical restraint are dangerous interventions that are routinely misused for punishment in non-emergency situations despite existing prohibitions limiting their use to safety purposes.

Takes effect immediately upon becoming law and requires General Assembly appropriations to fund the monitoring program.