relative to the office of child advocate's oversight of restraint and seclusion reports.

HB 523 requires child welfare facilities and schools to submit restraint and seclusion reports to the Office of the Child Advocate within 5 days of an incident, creating a confidential central reporting location for these records. It mandates that the Office of the Child Advocate gain access to facilities and staff for independent review of such incidents, with new classified staff positions (including two case aides and a children's services analyst) established to handle this oversight. The bill also clarifies that escorting a combative child while maintaining an upright position does not count as restraint, and specifies immediate phone notification for child fatalities or serious injuries. This legislation directly affects children in care, facilities using restraints, and the Office of the Child Advocate, which gains formal authority over these reports.