LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — An Indiana lawmaker wants another set of eyes in the classroom. The legislation comes after disturbing allegations involving a non-verbal student forced to eat his own vomit.  

The proposed legislation would put cameras in isolation and restraint rooms used in every school. The incident occurred in a Brownsburg, Indiana elementary school, just west of Indianapolis. A seven-year-old child was forced to use a spoon to eat his own vomit.  

It was caught on camera and not reported to the Indiana Department of Education or to the public for months. The proposed legislation would set requirements for reporting and place cameras in rooms used by special needs students.  

"They (teachers) are telling me put the cameras in our room both for their own protection as well as the protection of the kids unfortunately we are just at a point where we need to be able to both say no nothing happened, or these things are happening," State Representative Becky Cash, republican member of the Indiana House of Representative, told WDRB News. 

Rep. Cash said the proposed legislation would require school districts to report twice a year to a state commission any time a special needs student is placed in seclusion or put in restraints. And the cameras would provide protection for both the student and staff.

“I’m also concerned that our special education teachers and our instructional aides are telling me they are being scapegoated by their administration again there are great schools this is not everywhere, but it is enough statewide they tell me they are being blamed for things that when things happen it is just easier to blame to the teacher," Cash said.

The legislation is scheduled for hearing Wednesday, and Rep. Cash said the cost of putting cameras in special needs classrooms will cost around $85,000 per school and finding the money in a budget year may be difficult. 

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