Paris Hilton joined California state lawmakers on Monday to advocate for legislation that aims to increase transparency and oversight in youth treatment facilities. The bill, supported by Hilton, would require facilities to disclose information on disciplinary methods such as restraints and seclusion rooms used against minors and notify parents and the state when these methods are utilized. Hilton testified at a legislative hearing in support of the bill, sharing her own experience of abuse at a facility in Utah during her teenage years.
The bipartisan bill passed committee on Monday and would mandate facilities to report details of disciplinary actions taken, why they were taken, and who approved them. The state department regulating these facilities would also have to make these reports public and update a database quarterly. The legislation does not prohibit the use of disciplinary practices but aims to provide more transparency. Hilton has become a vocal advocate for increased regulation of teen treatment centers, drawing from her own experience of physical and mental abuse as a teenager.
Hilton’s testimony about her time at Utah’s Provo Canyon School in 2021 helped pass a bill in the state imposing stricter oversight on youth treatment centers. She has also lobbied for federal reforms in Washington D.C. and supported changes in at least eight states to protect minors. Through her company 11:11 Media, Hilton is sponsoring the bill in California, calling it a “game changer” that can expose child abuse at youth residential treatments and hold them accountable. She emphasized the importance of shedding light on abuse happening behind closed doors to prevent others from suffering in silence.
Between 2015 and 2020, California sent over 1,240 children with behavioral issues to out-of-state facilities due to the lack of locked treatment centers for youths. Reports of abuse at these programs, including incidents of restraint-related deaths, led California to uncover significant licensing violations and ultimately phase out the program in 2020. Legislation in 2021 formally banned the use of out-of-state residential centers, with Governor Gavin Newsom allocating $8 million to repatriate all minors by the previous year. Minors with behavioral issues are now sent to in-state short-term residential centers, but current laws do not require these facilities to disclose the use of disciplinary methods or their outcomes.
In-state short-term residential centers were established in 2017 to replace group homes, but the lack of transparency regarding disciplinary practices raises concerns about the well-being of vulnerable children at these facilities. Senator Shannon Grove emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency to protect California’s children, particularly those who have been sexually exploited or are in foster care. The proposed legislation represents a critical step towards ensuring increased oversight and accountability in youth treatment facilities. Hilton’s advocacy, along with bipartisan support, aims to prevent further instances of abuse and provide a safer environment for minors seeking treatment for behavioral issues.
