What's happening
This bill bans the use of timeout boxes or closets to isolate children in New York schools.
Why it matters
This bill impacts a wide range of educational settings. including all public, private, charter, and residential schools, as well as pre-kindergarten and special education programs statewide—meaning nearly every child in New York schools is covered.
By banning timeout boxes and similar isolation enclosures, the bill directly addresses concerns about student safety and the potential for psychological harm, especially for vulnerable children with disabilities who are disproportionately subjected to these practices.
The legislation creates a clear statewide standard, replacing a patchwork of local policies, and only allows limited use of seclusion or restraint as defined by future state regulations—likely leading to greater oversight and possibly new training or reporting requirements for school staff.
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Who cares
- Likely concerns
Parents and Guardians of Schoolchildren
Concerned about the safety, dignity, and well-being of their children in educational settings, especially those with disabilities or behavioral challenges who may be at higher risk of seclusion.
School Administrators and Educators
Responsible for implementing discipline and behavioral interventions; they need to understand new legal boundaries and develop alternative strategies for student management.
Advocacy Groups for Children’s Rights and Students with Disabilities
Focused on preventing potentially traumatic or harmful disciplinary practices and ensuring compliance with best practices for student care.
School Boards and Legal/Compliance Teams
Tasked with updating policies and training staff to adhere to the new prohibitions and ensure the district or institution remains in compliance with state law.
Headline styles
Ban Timeout Boxes in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10560
IN SENATE
May 21, 2026
Introduced by Sen. STEC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to limiting 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 Assembly, 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, except for the authorized limited use of timeout and physical restraint as prescribed in the commissioner's regulations.
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 nonresidential 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 prekindergarten program directly operated by a school district, board of cooperative 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 registered 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.
LBD15984-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to limiting the use of timeout boxes, closets or other secluded physical enclosures in schools in the state
Purpose
To prohibit schools statewide from confining students in physical enclo- sures as punishment.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - Creates a new section of Education Law, section 116, which would ban the use of "timeout boxes" in schools. This section also provides definitions and relevant exceptions.
Section 2 - Provides effective date.
Justification
This legislation follows reports of school districts placing students in enclosed "timeout boxes" as punishment.
This form of punishment is cruel and psychologically damaging to students, and in violation of state regulations.
This bill would place into law prohibitions, which are long overdue.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.