April 30, 2024
The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Chair, Assembly Education Committee
California State Assembly
1020 N Street, Room 159
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support of Senate Bill 483 (Cortese)
Dear Chair Muratsuchi,
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Senate Bill 483 (Cortese), legislation which would prohibit in all California schools the use of “prone restraint”, a technique that physically or mechanically restrains students in a face down position.
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15 to 26, led statewide program of Mental Health America of California which engages, empowers and represents TAY in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Established in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.
The use of prone restraints is a dangerous and sometime lethal practice used on students if they are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. This practice has also become synonymous as a method of discipline, with a disproportionate impact on students of color. Prone restraints are not a mental or behavioral health support, instead they traumatize or even injure students.
For these reasons, we support Senate Bill 483 (Cortese) and ask for your, “Aye” vote. If you or your staff have any questions, of if the California Youth Empowerment Network can be of any assistance regarding youth behavioral health policy, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.
In Community,
Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network