Bill > A06046

This bill, known as the "Protect Our Students In School Act," comprehensively prohibits various forms of harmful disciplinary practices in schools, including corporal punishment, aversive interventions, chemical restraints, mechanical restraints, and seclusion. The legislation provides detailed definitions for these terms and establishes strict guidelines for when physical restraint may be used, allowing it only in situations where a student presents an imminent risk of bodily harm and other less restrictive interventions have been ineffective. The bill requires school districts to develop procedures for immediately notifying parents when any form of physical intervention is used on a student, and mandates that the state education department collect and report annual data on the use of physical restraints, including demographic information about affected students. Additionally, the bill requires school safety plans to include policies for responding to students experiencing mental health crises without automatically involving law enforcement, unless there is a direct threat of violence or criminal activity. The goal of the legislation is to protect students from potentially traumatizing disciplinary methods and ensure more humane, supportive approaches to managing challenging student behaviors.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6046