California lawmakers have passed bipartisan legislation, Senate Bill 1043, aimed at increasing oversight on the use of seclusion or restraints on children and teenagers in residential treatment facilities. The bill, written by Sen. Shannon Grove, would require public and private short-term therapeutic programs to publish incidents of seclusion or restraint used on minors, as well as any health or safety concerns. This is a response to concerns about the historical use of these punishment tactics on youths, particularly those in foster care.
The bill, now heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration, would require the California Department of Social Services to publish data on its website about incidents of seclusion or restraint, accessible to the public. Parents, foster parents, guardians, or tribal representatives of children subjected to these punishments would also be notified. The legislation gained support from legislators on both sides of the aisle, as well as from celebrity Paris Hilton, who testified in support of the bill in April.
Hilton, who has spoken out about her own experiences of abuse in a youth educational facility, has been an advocate for victims of the “troubled teen industry.” The bill was amended to require an investigation for reported incidents, but the costly nature of these investigations led to the removal of those amendments. Now, investigations will only occur if a child’s safety is at risk or if there is misuse of disciplinary tactics. This legislation marks a step towards increased transparency and protection for vulnerable children in California.
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