Sec.10-76b-9. Parental notification of physical restraint, seclusion

(a) If a person at risk is physically restrained or placed in seclusion, an attempt shall be made to notify the parent on the day of, or within twenty-four hours after, physical restraint or seclusion is used with the child as an emergency intervention to prevent immediate or imminent injury to the person or others, as permitted under sections 46a-150 to 46a-154, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes. Such notification shall be made by phone, e-mail or other method which may include, but is not limited to, sending a note home with the child. The parent of such child, regardless of whether he or she received such notification, shall be sent a copy of the incident report no later than two business days after the emergency use of physical restraint or seclusion. The incident report shall contain, at a minimum, the information required under subsection (d) of section 46a-152 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(b) Where seclusion is included in the IEP of a person at risk, the PPT and the parents shall determine a timeframe and manner of notification of each incident of seclusion.

(c) The Department of Education shall develop a plain language notice for use in the public schools to advise parents of the laws and regulations concerning the emergency use of physical restraint or seclusion or the use of seclusion as a behavior intervention in a child's IEP. On and after October 1, 2009, this notice shall be provided to the child's parent at the first PPT meeting following the child's referral for special education. For children who were eligible for special education prior to October 1, 2009, the notice shall be provided to the parent at the first PPT meeting convened after October 1, 2009. The notice shall also be provided to a child's parent at the first PPT meeting at which the use of seclusion as a behavior intervention is included in the child's IEP.

(Adopted effective May 7, 2009)