It is time to ban prone restraint in schools in California. SB 483 would prohibit the use of “prone restraint,” which physically or mechanically restrains students in a face-down position. We need your help to keep this legislation moving. The first stop is the Senate Education Committee. Please consider sending a letter to members of the Senate Education Committee. Below is a sample letter. Letters need to be submitted by noon PT on Friday, January 5th.
Honorable Josh Newman
Chair, Education Committee
California State Senate
1021 O St., Rm. 6740
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 483 (Cortese) – Banning Dangerous Restraint Technique on Students – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Newman:
On behalf of [Your Name or the Name of Organization], I write in strong support of SB 483. This bill would prohibit in all California schools the use of “prone restraint,” a technique involving the behavioral restraint of students in a facedown position.
Prone restraint is one of the most dangerous forms of restraint still permitted in a school setting. It is a technique that restricts a student’s airway and lessens the supply of oxygen to the rest of the body. The U.S. Department of Education recommends that prone restraints never be used in schools, and over 30 other states have prohibited this form of behavioral restraint on all students.
[A bit about why you or your organization supports this policy.]
Restraint in schools has resulted in serious injury as well as death. In 2018, a 13-year-old student with autism died at an El Dorado Hills school after being held in a prone restraint for over an hour. In 2019, The Sacramento Bee found that prone restraints are often used on students with special needs and used at a higher rate for Black students.
Several school districts in California have used dangerous restraint techniques on students hundreds of times during a single school year, rather than positive behavior interventions.
For these reasons, I/We support SB 483.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Organization
Letters are due on Friday at noon Pacific time and you will have to submit the letter through the portal https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/.
