COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included claims about cell phones specifically, but the official text refers more broadly to wireless telecommunications devices.

Rules for Wireless Devices in Public Schools

This act requires the development of a model policy by the department to prohibit personal wireless devices during school hours and mandates each school district to adopt this or a similar policy, with exceptions for emergencies.

What This Bill Does

• The state's education department must create a model policy that bans students from using non-school-issued wireless telecommunications devices during regular school hours, including lunch and passing periods.
• Each public school district is required to either adopt the state’s model policy or develop its own similar policy prohibiting personal wireless device use during regular school hours.
• School districts are required to inform parents, guardians, students, volunteers, and employees about their adopted policies on wireless telecommunications devices.
• The policy allows exceptions for emergency situations where students can use their devices.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students in public schools
• Parents and guardians of students
• School district officials

Terms To Know

Wireless Telecommunications Device

Any portable wireless device that can provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two or more parties.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the consequences for students who violate the policy.
• It is unclear how schools will enforce these policies.

Official Summary Text

COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

SB0018A -1- SB 18
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0219\N

SENATE BILL NO. 18

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATORS WIELECHOWSKI, Gray-Jackson

Introduced: 1/22/25
Referred: Education

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in publ ic schools; and 1
providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 14.33 is amended by adding a new section to read: 4
Article 5. Wireless Telecommunications Devices. 5
Sec. 14.33.300. Wireless telecommunications device policy. ( a ) T h e 6
department shall develop and adopt a model policy that prohibits the use of nonschool-7
issued wireless telecommunicati ons devices in public schools du ring regular school 8
hours, including lunch and passing periods. The policy may allo w an exception for 9
students to use a wireless telecommunications device for emergency purposes. 10
(b) Each school district shall adopt a policy that prohibits s tudents from 11
possessing or using a nonschool-i ssued wireless telecommunicati ons device during 12
regular school hours, including lunch and passing periods. Each school district shall 13
share this policy with parents or guardians, students, voluntee rs, and school 14
34-LS0219\N
SB 18 -2- SB0018A
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

employees. The policy may allow an exception for students to us e a wireless 1
telecommunications dev ice for emergency purposes. A school dist r i c t m a y e i t h e r 2
develop and adopt its own policy or adopt the model policy developed under (a) of this 3
section. 4
(c) In this section, "wireless telecommunications device" mean s any portable 5
wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messa ging, or other data 6
communication between two or more parties. 7
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2025. 8