Revises provisions concerning policies governing the use of certain electronic devices in schools. (BDR 34-855)

- 83rd Session (2025)
Senate Bill No. 444–Committee on Education

CHAPTER..........

AN ACT relating to education; requiring a policy adopted by the
board of trustees of a school district concerning the use and
possession by pupils of certain electronic devices to include
certain provisions governing the disci pline of pupils and
exceptions to limitations prescribed as part of such a policy;
and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law: (1) requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a
policy concerning the use and possession by pupils of certain electronic devices
while on school property or at a school activity; and (2) sets forth certain
requirements concerning the policy. (NRS 392.4637) This bill requires the policy to
address the use a nd possession by pupils of an electronic communication device .
This bill additionally requires the policy to include: (1) measures for disciplining a
pupil using a progressive scale based on the number and seriousness of violations;
(2) limitations on the use of an electronic communication device during instruction;
and (3) certain exceptions for any limitations imposed as part of such a policy.

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. NRS 392.4637 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
392.4637 1. The board of trustees of each school district shall
adopt a policy concerning the use and possession by pupils of [a
pager, cellular telephone or any other similar ] an electronic
communication device [used for communication ] while on the
premises of a public school or while at an activity sponsored by a
public school.
2. The policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 must:
(a) Prescribe appropriate measures for disciplining a pupil who
violates the policy [.] that include, without limitation, a system to
rate violations of a policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 on a
progressive scale based on the number and seriousness of the
violations.
(b) Prescribe limitations on the use of an electronic
communication device during instruction.
(c) Include exceptions to any limitations on the use of an
electronic communication device prescribed as part of a policy
adopted pursuant to subsection 1, including, without limitation,
exceptions:

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- 83rd Session (2025)
(1) On the use of an electronic communication device
during an emergency or crisis or to manage the health of a pupil;
(2) If a teacher allows for the use of an electronic
communication device for instructional purposes; and
(3) If the use of an electronic communication de vice is
included as part of an individualized education program or a plan
developed in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794.
(d) Be included within each copy of the rules of behavior
for pupils that the school d istrict provides to pupils pursuant to
NRS 392.463.
3. As used in this section:
(a) “Electronic communication device” means any electronic
device that is capable of transmitting any audio, written or
pictorial information or messages to another electro nic device.
The term does not include an electronic device issued to a pupil by
the school district or the school in which the pupil is enrolled.
(b) “Individualized education program” has the meaning
ascribed to it in 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A).
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective:
1. Upon passage and approval for the purpose of performing
any administrative tasks necessary to adopt the policy required by
NRS 392.4637, as amended by section 1 of this act, not later than
June 30, 2026; and
2. On July 1, 2026, for all other purposes.

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