Summary: 

Effective: June 10, 2019 

Last Updated: December, 2024

Senate Bill 712 was signed into law on June 10, 2019 and prohibits the use of certain aversive techniques on students enrolled in public schools. Senate Bill 712 was signed into law on June 10, 2019 and prohibits the use of certain aversive techniques on students enrolled in public schools. Below is a summary of these techniques and information on how Safety-Care can be utilized to improve safety.

• designed to or likely to cause physical pain; 
• designed to or likely to cause physical pain through the use of electric shock or any procedure that involves the use of pressure points or joint locks;
• releasing a noxious, toxic, or otherwise unpleasant spray, mist, or substance near the student's face;
• denial of adequate sleep, air, food, water, shelter, bedding, physical comfort, or access to a restroom facility;
• ridiculing or demeaning the student in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning or mental health of the student or constitutes verbal abuse;
• employing a device, material, or object that simultaneously immobilizes all four extremities, including any procedure that results in such immobilization known as prone or supine floor restraint;
• impairs the student's breathing, including any procedure that involves:
  • applying pressure to the student's torso or neck; or
  • obstructing the student's airway, including placing an object in, on, or over the student's mouth or nose or placing a bag, cover, or mask over the student's face;
  • restricts the student's circulation;
  • secures the student to a stationary object while the student is in a sitting or standing position;
  • inhibits, reduces, or hinders the student's ability to communicate;
  • involves the use of a chemical restraint;
• constitutes a use of timeout that precludes the student from being able to be involved in and progress appropriately
• in the required curriculum and, if applicable, toward the annual goals included in the student's individualized
• education program, including isolating the student by the use of physical barriers; or
• deprives the student of the use of one or more of the student's senses. 

Aversive techniques may be used in limited circumstances if the technique does not cause discomfort or pain and complies with individual education or behavioral intervention plans 

A school district or school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district may not apply an aversive technique, or by authorization, order, or consent, cause an aversive technique to be applied, to a student.

How Safety-Care aligns: Safety-Care training can help meet the requirements set forth in SB 712. Safety-Care promotes the use of de-escalation prior to the use of any physical management. Physical management techniques are designed to ensure the safety of all participants and are only to be used until the situation has de-escalated. Safety-Care can be designed and taught to match local requirements regarding restraint but always focuses on the least restrictive and safest methods. All physical management techniques are role-played by trainees to ensure that they fully grasp the need for minimum restriction and full safety of all participants. Our Master Trainers verify each trainees use of these techniques in role-play, further ensuring their safe use. Each trainee must prove mastery of proper technique use before they can be certified in Safety-Care. Safety-Care prohibits the use of chemical restraints.