An Act Regarding Physical Escort and Restraint and Seclusion of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1248
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SARGENT, NANGLE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4014

Legislative Document
No. 1248
H.P. 823
House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
An Act Regarding Physical Escort and Restraint and Seclusion of 
Students in Schools
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SARGENT of York.
Cosponsored by Senator NANGLE of Cumberland and
Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, FROST of Belgrade, HAGGAN of Hampden, 
HEPLER of Woolwich, RAY of Lincolnville, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, SINCLAIR of Bath, 
TUELL of East Machias.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read:
D.  "Physical escort" means the temporary, voluntary touching or holding of the hand, 
wrist, arm, shoulder or back to induce a student to walk to a safe location.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is amended 
to read:
2.  Prohibition on unlawful restraint and seclusion; restriction on use of physical 
restraint and seclusion.  A covered entity that receives state or federal assistance may not 
subject a student to unlawful restraint or seclusion. A covered entity may use physical 
restraint or seclusion only if:
A.  The student's behavior poses an imminent danger of serious physical injury to the 
student or another person;
B.  Less restrictive interventions would be ineffective in stopping imminent danger of 
serious physical injury to the student or another person;
C.  The physical restraint or seclusion ends immediately upon the cessation of 
imminent danger of serious physical injury to the student or another person; and
D.  The least amount of force necessary is used to protect the student or another person 
from imminent danger of serious physical injury.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§3, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read:
G.  The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to students related to physical 
restraint;
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§3, ¶H, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read:
H.  The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to students related to seclusion;
Sec. 5.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§3, ¶I, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read:
I.  The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to staff related to physical 
restraint; and
Sec. 6.  20-A MRSA §4014, sub-§3, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 453, §1, is 
amended to read:
J.  The aggregate number of serious physical injuries to staff related to seclusion.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the definition of "physical escort" in the law regarding physical 
restraint and seclusion in educational settings to provide that the temporary touching or 
holding of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder or back of a student to induce the student to walk 
to a safe location does not need to be voluntary.
The bill also amends the prohibition on the use of physical restraint or seclusion by 
removing the requirement that an imminent danger be of serious physical injury and instead 
requires only that there is imminent danger of injury.