Maryland § 7-1103

§ 7-1103.

    (a)    In this section, each incident during a behavioral health intervention in which a student is enclosed in a room, enclosure, or other space and prevented from leaving, shall be counted as a separate incident of seclusion regardless of the duration of the incident.

    (b)    (1)    If a student enrolled in a public school is physically restrained 10 times or more in a school year, the public school shall provide notice to the Department and the local school system at the earliest opportunity, but not longer than 4 business days after the student’s 10th incident of physical restraint.

        (2)    If a student placed in a nonpublic school by the local school system is physically restrained or placed in seclusion 10 times or more in a school year, the nonpublic school shall provide notice to the Department and the local school system at the earliest opportunity, but not longer than 4 business days after the student’s 10th incident of physical restraint or seclusion.

    (c)    On receipt of notice from a public school or nonpublic school under subsection (b) of this section, the local school system shall:

        (1)    Review the student’s case, including the circumstances of each incident of physical restraint or seclusion;

        (2)    Assess the public school’s or nonpublic school’s pattern of behavioral health interventions to evaluate whether the public school or nonpublic school could use less restrictive behavioral health interventions; and

        (3)    Share the local school system’s recommendations with the Department and the public school or nonpublic school.

    (d)    If a student enrolled in a public agency that is not a public school is physically restrained 10 times or more in a school year, the public agency shall provide notice to the Department at the earliest opportunity, but not longer than 4 business days after the student’s 10th incident of physical restraint.

    (e)    On receipt of notice from a public agency under subsection (d) of this section, the Department shall:

        (1)    Review the student’s case, including the circumstances of each incident of physical restraint;

        (2)    Assess the public agency’s pattern of behavioral health interventions to evaluate whether the public agency could use less restrictive behavioral health interventions; and

        (3)    Share the Department’s recommendations with the public agency.