S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10929
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 9, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CASHMAN, HEVESI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting the use of
timeout boxes, closets or other secluded physical enclosures in
schools in the state
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 116 to
read as follows:
§ 116. PROHIBITIONS ON TIMEOUT BOXES IN SCHOOLS. 1. THE USE OF TIMEOUT
BOXES, CLOSETS OR OTHER SECLUDED PHYSICAL ENCLOSURES FOR THE ISOLATION
OF CHILDREN ARE PROHIBITED IN SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.
2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
(A) "TIMEOUT BOX" SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A WOODEN OR
PADDED ROOM OR STRUCTURE WHERE A CHILD IS ISOLATED.
(B) "SCHOOL" MEANS A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, CHARTER SCHOOL, STATE-OPERATED AND STATE-SUPPORTED
SCHOOL PURSUANT TO ARTICLES EIGHTY-FIVE, EIGHTY-SEVEN AND EIGHTY-EIGHT
OF THIS CHAPTER, IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL OR NON-
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
APPROVED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE EIGHTY-NINE OF THIS CHAPTER OR OPERATING
UNDER ARTICLE EIGHTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, STATE-ADMINISTERED PREKINDER-
GARTEN PROGRAM DIRECTLY OPERATED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOARD OF COOPER-
ATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, OR AN ELIGIBLE AGENCY, AS DEFINED IN 8 NYCRR
151-1.2 (B), OR OPERATED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN COLLABORATION WITH AN
ELIGIBLE AGENCY, PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM APPROVED PURSUANT
TO SECTION FOUR THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AND REGIS-
TERED NONPUBLIC NURSERY SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, AND HIGH SCHOOL, AND A
NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SERVING GRADES ONE THROUGH EIGHT THAT HAS A REGISTERED
HIGH SCHOOL, IN THIS STATE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14409-01-6
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