Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (2026)

Restrictions on administration of, or use of, isolation or restraint

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) Administering a chemical restraint to a student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited; provided, that nothing in this subsection (a) shall prohibit the administration of a chemical restraint when administered for therapeutic purposes under the direction of a physician and with the student's parent or guardian's consent to administer such chemical restraint.

(b) Administering a noxious substance to a student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited.

(c) The use of any mechanical restraint on any student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited.

(d) Any form of life threatening restraint, including restraint that restricts the flow of air into a person's lungs, whether by chest compression or any other means, to a student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited.

(e)
- (1) The use of isolation or restraint as a means of coercion, punishment, convenience or retaliation on any student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited.
- (2) Removing or disabling any equipment or device that a student requires, including, but not limited to, a power wheelchair, brace, augmentative communication device, or walker, as a means of coercion, punishment, convenience, or retaliation on any student receiving special education services, as defined by § 49-10-102, is prohibited.
- (3) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.]

(f) The use of a locked door, or any physical structure, mechanism, or device that substantially accomplishes the function of locking a student in a room, structure, or area, is prohibited.

(g) Any enclosed area or structure used as an isolation room shall be:
- (1) Unlocked and incapable of being locked;
- (2) Free of any condition that could be a danger to the student;
- (3) Well ventilated and temperature controlled;
- (4) Sufficiently lighted for the comfort and well-being of the student;
- (5) Where school personnel are in continuous direct visual contact with the student at all times;
- (6) At least forty square feet (40 sq. ft.); and
- (7) In compliance with all applicable state and local fire, health, and safety codes.

(h) Notwithstanding this section, actions undertaken by school personnel to break up a fight or to take a weapon from a student are not prohibited; however, these acts shall be reported.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 134, Secs.s21, s22, s23 eff. 7/1/2021.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 134, s 20, eff. 7/1/2021.

Acts 2008 , ch. 1063, § 5; 2011 , ch. 457, §§ 9 - 11.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2017–2023 · leading case: I.L. ex rel. Taylor v. Knox Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 257 F. Supp. 3d 946 (E.D. Tenn. 2017).

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I.L. ex rel. Taylor v. Knox Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 257 F. Supp. 3d 946 (E.D. Tenn. 2017). · cites it 12× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (1), (3), (4).”

J.M. By & Through Mata v. Tn Dept. Of Educ., 358 F. Supp. 3d 736 (M.D. Tenn. 2018). · cites it 4× “unlocked and incapable of being locked," Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (g)(1), but the IPS room in which Howell placed J.”

O.B. v. Rutherford Cnty., Tennessee (M.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (e)(3)(A)(ii).”

E.S. v. Clarksville Montgomery Cnty. Sch. Sys. (M.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 2× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 . C. The Case at Bar As discussed above, in a lawsuit challenging an IDEA administrative decision, the district court will undertake a “modified de novo review” of the administrative decision.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305(e)(1) — 1 case

I.L. ex rel. Taylor v. Knox Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 257 F. Supp. 3d 946 (E.D. Tenn. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (1), (3), (4).”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305(e)(3)(A)(ii) — 1 case

O.B. v. Rutherford Cnty., Tennessee (M.D. Tenn. 2023). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (e)(3)(A)(ii).”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305(g) — 1 case

I.L. ex rel. Taylor v. Knox Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 257 F. Supp. 3d 946 (E.D. Tenn. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (1), (3), (4).”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305(g)(l) — 1 case

I.L. ex rel. Taylor v. Knox Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 257 F. Supp. 3d 946 (E.D. Tenn. 2017). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-10-1305 (1), (3), (4).”

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