New Safety Requirements for Students with Disabilities

The Frame

What this does

The bill mandates that public schools implement formal procedures to locate students with disabilities who wander away from supervision, directly impacting the safety protocols for students with autism or intellectual disabilities and the administrative duties of school staff.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Students with disabilities

Students with autism or intellectual disabilities who are prone to elopement will have individual safety plans and emergency guides created for them.

Public school staff

School personnel are required to participate in annual training and follow new procedures for elopement prevention and response.

District school boards

Boards are required to receive and manage annual elopement plans submitted by public schools.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Background

The American Psychiatric Association is the professional organization that publishes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is referenced in the bill to define autism spectrum disorder. context

Summary

This bill requires public schools to create specialized safety teams and individual response plans for students with disabilities who are at risk of leaving school grounds unsupervised, a behavior known as . Schools must develop specific emergency guides for these students and provide annual safety training to staff.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill apply to all students?

No, it specifically applies to students with disabilities, such as or intellectual disabilities, who have a documented history of .

What is a 'quick reference guide'?

It is a document created by the for a specific student that includes their photo, identifying information, communication level, health considerations, and a list of places they might go if they elope.

When must schools contact emergency services?

Schools are required to contact emergency services only when a student is reasonably believed to have left school grounds and is at risk of harm.

Why It Matters

The bill mandates that public schools implement formal procedures to locate students with disabilities who wander away from supervision, directly impacting the safety protocols for students with autism or intellectual disabilities and the administrative duties of school staff.