Establishes pilot program in DOE to use lockable cell phone pouches in certain public schools; appropriates $500,000.

S3290

SENATE, No. 3290

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 2, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� KRISTIN M. CORRADO

District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes pilot program in DOE to use lockable cell
phone pouches in certain public schools; appropriates $500,000.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing a pilot program in DOE concerning lockable
cell phone pouches and making an appropriation.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� The Commissioner of
Education shall establish a one-year pilot program to assess the academic and
mental health benefits associated with the use of lockable cell phone pouches
in grades six through 12.

���� b.��� A school district that
wishes to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the
commissioner.� The application shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:

���� (1)�� the number of middle
schools and high schools in the district;

���� (2)�� the number of students
enrolled in each middle school and high school in the district; and

���� (3)�� a proposal outlining the
district�s program implementation plan, including the number of schools in
which the district will use the lockable cell phone pouches and the method by
which the district will notify the parent or guardian of a student in the event
of an emergency.

���� c.���� The commissioner shall
select two districts in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of
the State to participate in the pilot program and shall seek a cross section of
school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State.� The
commissioner may select a school district that is currently implementing a
program that utilizes lockable cell phone pouches in schools of the district to
participate in the pilot program established pursuant to this act, provided the
district is not receiving any other grant to support use of lockable cell phone
pouches in schools.

���� d.��� The commissioner shall
provide pilot districts with guidance regarding the use of lockable cell phone
pouches in schools, including training on how the lockable cell phone pouches
work.

���� e.���� No later than 120 days
following the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a
report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot
program in improving academic success and mental health outcomes of students in
middle school and high school and provides recommendations as to continued use
of lockable cell phone pouches in schools.

���� 2.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Department of Education $500,000 to effectuate the
provisions of this act.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes a
one-year pilot program in DOE to assess the academic and mental health benefits
associated with the use of lockable cell phone pouches in grades six through
12.�

���� Under the bill, a school
district that wishes to participate in the pilot program is required to submit
an application to the commissioner that is to include: (1) the number of middle
schools and high schools in the district; (2) the number of students enrolled
in each middle school and high school in the district; and (3) a proposal
outlining the district�s program implementation plan, including the number of
schools in which the district will use the lockable cell phone pouches and the
method by which the district will notify the parent or guardian of a student in
the event of an emergency.

���� The bill directs the
Commissioner of Education to select two districts in each of the northern,
central, and southern regions of the State to participate in the pilot program
and to seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural
areas of the State.� The bill permits the commissioner to select a school
district that is currently implementing a program that utilizes lockable cell
phone pouches in schools of the district to participate in the pilot program,
provided the district is not receiving any other grant to support the use of
lockable cell phone pouches in schools.

���� Under the bill, the
commissioner is to provide pilot districts with guidance regarding the use of
lockable cell phone pouches in schools, including training on how the lockable
cell phone pouches work.� The bill directs the commissioner to submit a report
to the Governor and Legislature no later than 120 days following the conclusion
of the pilot program that evaluates the effectiveness of the pilot program in
improving academic success and mental health outcomes of students in middle
school and high school and provides recommendations as to continued use of
lockable cell phone pouches in schools

���� Finally, the bill appropriates
$500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Education to effectuate the
provisions of the bill.