An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, providing for restricting possession and use by students of mobile devices.

PRINTER'S NO. 1389
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1238
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GLEIM, GAYDOS, OLSOMMER, PICKETT, M. MACKENZIE,
STAATS, ANDERSON, JAMES, SCHEUREN, ORTITAY, ROWE, KUZMA,
COOPER AND KAUFFMAN, APRIL 17, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, providing
for restricting possession and use by students of mobile
devices.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1317.4. Restricting Possession and Use by Students
of Mobile Devices.--(a) Except as otherwise provided in this
section and in accordance with the policy adopted under
subsection (b), a student attending a school entity may not
possess or use a mobile device during instructional time in a
school building of the school entity.
(b) The governing body of a school entity shall adopt a
policy that restricts students from possessing or using mobile
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devices during instructional time.
(c) The policy adopted under subsection (b) shall:
(1) Specify procedures for a student to deposit the
student's mobile device in a lockbox, case, pouch with a locking
mechanism or other secure location during instructional time in
a school building of the school entity.
(2) Specify procedures for a student to retrieve the
student's mobile device from the lockbox, case, pouch with a
locking mechanism or other secure location.
(3) Specify procedures for students and parents to contact
one another during instructional time.
(d) The policy adopted under subsection (b) may not limit a
student's use of a mobile device when the student:
(1) is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or
rescue squad and the use is for the performance of an official
duty as a member of the volunteer fire company, ambulance or
rescue squad;
(2) has a need for the mobile device due to the medical
condition of the student or an immediate family member of the
student;
(3) has a disability and use of a mobile device is required
by the student's individualized education plan;
(4) is an English language learner and uses the mobile
device for translation purposes;
(5) has permission from a teacher to use a mobile device for
educational purposes during instructional time; or
(6) is otherwise permitted to do so under the policy.
(e) The policy under subsection (b) shall be adopted at an
open meeting of the governing body of the school entity where
members of the public have the opportunity to provide feedback
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on the policy.
(f) At the beginning of each school year, a school entity
shall inform parents and legal guardians, teachers and students
of the policy adopted under subsection (b) and any changes to
the policy since the previous school year, if applicable.
(g) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Instructional time." The time during which students
participate in an approved course, curriculum or other
educationally related activity under the direction of a teacher.
The term does not include a period of time between classes,
lunch or recess.
"Mobile device." A personal mobile telephone or other
portable electronic communication device, not owned by a school
entity or issued by a school entity to a student, with which a
user can engage in a call or write or send a message. The term
includes a device in which the user can play a game or watch a
video.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
career and technical school, charter school or regional charter
school or cyber charter school operating within this
Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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