LINCOLN- A new bill, LB811, introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman, would allow for teachers and staff at all Nebraska schools to use "reasonable physical intervention" to manage student behavior. The bill received a large amount of pushback, particularly from parents of students with developmental disabilities, civil rights leaders, school administrators, and former teachers, many of whom argued that the measure would risk the safety of students already facing increased discipline.

Brad Meurrens, public policy director of Disability Rights of Nebraska, stated that the bill's ambiguity puts students with disabilities at risk. Meurrens cited that around 80% of students who get restrained at schools, whether by other students or staff, have disabilities, despite the fact that they only make up 13% of the student population. Murman, in defense of his bill, stated that he simply wants to clarify that Nebraska's teachers and staff can physically intervene to protect students and school staffers, a step several opponents argued already exists in Nebraska law.

"Friends, we have got to do something here," Murman told the Education Committee, "These acts of physical aggression have disrupted the learning environment. We have to let teachers defend themselves." Similar bills have been introduced for the past eight years in Nebraska, but all have failed. Murman stated that he introduced the bill this year at the behest of the Nebraska State Education Association.

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