IL HR0088

Urges Illinois state agencies and the General Assembly to adopt a policy goal of preventing, reducing, and ultimately eliminating the use of restraint and seclusion with children and adolescents in social services, medical, educational, and juvenile justice settings.

Establishes that restraint and seclusion should only be used as a last resort to protect youth from harming themselves or others and prohibits their use for punishment, discipline, or convenience.

Requires that until restraint and seclusion are eliminated, only staff members with certified training and experience in these methods may employ them at state agencies and their contractors.

Documents documented harms of restraint and seclusion including physical injuries, psychological trauma, worker injuries, and self-inflicted harm, noting Illinois has the highest state-level seclusion totals in schools nationally.

References evidence-based training curricula and successful state initiatives, such as Massachusetts reducing workers' compensation claims by 29 percent and compensation paid by 98 percent after implementing restraint and seclusion reduction programs.