2026 -- H 7729

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LC004942

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Tanzi, Cruz, Biah, Alzate, Stewart, Potter,
Shallcross Smith, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2026

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings and purpose.

     (1) Seclusions can occur in spaces used for "time out," "calming down," "de-escalation,"

"quiet," or "isolation," if the student is alone and not free to leave. Placing children in seclusion

causes students to lose extensive instructional time even due to non-crisis behaviors or exhibiting

an imminent danger to themselves or others. Additionally, while in seclusion, students would often

engage in self-injurious behaviors such as banging their head against the door without staff

intervention.

     (2) It is the policy of the State of Rhode Island to promote safety and prevent harm to all

students, staff, and visitors in the public schools and to treat all school students with dignity and

respect in the delivery of discipline, seclusion, and use of reasonable force as permitted by law.

     (3) To accomplish such policy. It is the intention of the legislature to provide school staff

with clear guidelines about what constitutes use of reasonable force permissible in Rhode Island

schools with the goal of improving student achievement, attendance, promotion and graduation

rates by employing positive behavioral interventions to address student behavior in a positive and

safe manner while promoting retention of valuable teachers and other school personnel by

providing appropriate training in prescribed procedures, which address student behavior in a

positive and safe manner.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-21-44. Prohibition of seclusion classrooms.

     (a) No student shall be subjected to unlawful seclusion by program personnel, a law

enforcement officer, or a school security guard, while attending any public pre-k program,

elementary or secondary school in the state. An unlawful seclusion does not include physical

escort, a physical prompt to use adaptive devices or mechanical supports, physical restraints or

time-outs and shall only apply to isolation in a designated seclusion room.

     (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education (“commissioner”) shall

address any complaints alleging a violation of this section to conduct an appropriate investigation.

The commissioner shall promulgate the rules and regulations of such investigation and the

department of education shall publish, on its website, all notice requirements, forms and

instructions as to how to submit a complaint of any alleged violation.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would create a prohibition on the unlawful use of seclusion rooms within any

public pre-k program, elementary or secondary school in the state.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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