Paris Hilton, state lawmakers announce new social services transparency bill

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Paris Hilton and State Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) announced a new bill aimed at increasing transparency regarding the use of restraints and seclusion rooms in California Department of Health and Human Services facilities.

Senate Bill 1043, joint-authored by Grove, Sen. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) and sponsored by Hilton’s 11:11 Media Impact, would require facilities to make public reports on the use of restraints and seclusion rooms when providing short-term residential therapeutic programs.

“As a survivor of the ‘Troubled Teen Industry,’ I am proud to partner with Senator Shannon Grove – a champion for children in California – on the Accountability in Children’s Treatment Act to bring much needed transparency to California youth facilities,” Paris Hilton said. “I look forward to collaborating with all members of the California legislature on this important bill in our shared pursuit for protection of our state’s most vulnerable youth.”

The reports would include at least six pieces of information:

  • Actions taken during the incident
  • Rationale for the actions
  • Personnel approving the actions
  • Personnel implementing the actions
  • Duration of the incident
  • Whether the person is a minor or a nonminor dependent

The report must be made available to patients and other people such as a parent or guardian upon the patient’s request.

The bill sets a deadline of January 1, 2026, for the data to be posted quarterly to a dashboard on a state website.

The information will be posted along with other reports the department is already collecting, but is not yet required to release, on the use of restraint and seclusion rooms at certain facilities such as the number of serious injuries sustained by patients or staff that occur during incidents.