Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
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HR6617119th CongressWALLET
Keeping All Students Safe Act
Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Introduced
Summary
Ban on unlawful seclusion and restraint in federally funded programs. This bill would create a federal baseline that forbids seclusion and several types of restraint. It would limit physical holds to situations of imminent danger, require state‑approved crisis intervention training, and mandate prompt parent notice and incident review.
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- Students and families: Students with disabilities would get protections against restraints that are contraindicated by a disability or medical condition. Parents must receive same‑day verbal notice, a written notice within 24 hours, and a review meeting within 5 school days.
- Schools and staff: School personnel would need certification from state‑approved crisis intervention programs and periodic recertification could be required. Restraints would be allowed only by trained staff, end when danger passes, and require documentation and witness statements.
- States and federal oversight: States would submit plans and could receive 3‑year grants to improve prevention, training, and data collection and to reduce restraints. The bill also directs a national assessment to evaluate progress and identify effective practices.
*Authorizes roughly $40.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the Act, increasing federal spending in those years.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban on unlawful seclusion and restraints
This bill would bar unlawful seclusion and dangerous restraints in any school or program that gets federal money. It would ban life‑threatening restraints and restraints that stop breathing or blood flow. The bill would stop schools from writing planned, individualized physical restraints into IEPs or behavior plans. The Departments of the Interior and Defense would have to make rules so the schools they run or fund follow the same requirements.
State plans, training, and grants
The bill would require each State education agency to send a plan to the Education Secretary within two years and every year after. States would have to approve crisis intervention training and certify staff, and training certificates would need periodic renewal. The bill would authorize grants to help states and schools pay for training, data systems, and supports, and it would authorize $40 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the law. The Education Secretary would also run a national assessment with an interim report in 3 years and a final report in 5 years.
Enforcement and federal payment penalties
The Education Secretary (and HHS for Head Start) would investigate complaints about unlawful seclusion or restraint. If the Secretary finds a violation, the agency could withhold further federal payments to the program. That enforcement would increase accountability for schools, but losing federal funds could also affect a school's services and staff.
Quick parent notice and review
If your child is physically restrained, the school or Head Start program would have to call or message you the same day. The program would have to send a written notice within 24 hours with details about the incident and its duration. The program would have to meet with you within 5 school days to review the event, prior supports, and next steps. If a student is injured or dies, the program would also have to notify the State agency (or HHS for Head Start), local police, and the protection and advocacy group within 24 hours, and give that group needed information.
Right to sue for unlawful restraint
The bill would let a student or the student's parent sue a program in Federal or State court for unlawful seclusion or restraint. Plaintiffs could seek orders to stop the practice, money for harm, and payment of attorneys' and expert fees. The bill would bar suing individual staff members under this rule and makes clear programs can be sued despite certain immunity defenses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
MA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/2/2026
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 8/27/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 9/10/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 9/16/2026
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 10/1/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov