MD HB921

Prohibits placing minors in restrictive housing solely for discipline, punishment, administrative convenience, retaliation, or staffing shortages in Department of Juvenile Services facilities

Allows temporary restrictive housing only when a facility official finds clear and convincing evidence of immediate risk of physical harm or security threat, with no other reasonable alternatives available

Limits restrictive housing to a maximum of 6 hours, after which the minor must be returned to general population, transferred to medical care, or placed in special individualized programming

Requires mental health screening within 1 hour of placement and development of a plan to return the minor to general population as soon as possible

Guarantees minors in restrictive housing equal access to phone calls, visits, mail, food, water, education, and health care, with any denial documented in their file