Plain English Breakdown
The official summary and text do not provide detailed information on enforcement mechanisms beyond what is explicitly stated in the bill.
School Rules for Cell Phones and Smart Devices
This law changes how schools handle cell phones and smart devices, making it stricter about when students can have or use them during school hours.
What This Bill Does
- Changes the rules so that each school board must make policies to restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and prohibit their use on school property from bell to bell.
- Allows exceptions for students who need devices due to health reasons or special education needs, as outlined in specific plans like Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Requires that any violations of these policies are handled according to the school's code of conduct and not through suspensions or expulsions alone.
Who It Names or Affects
- School boards must create new rules.
- Public elementary and secondary schools must follow these rules.
- Students will have stricter limits on when they can use cell phones and smart devices at school.
Terms To Know
- Bell to bell
- The time from the first morning bell until after classes end in the afternoon, including lunch and breaks between classes.
- Smart device
- Any personal electronic gadget that can connect to the internet and send data wirelessly, like smartwatches or tablets.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law does not specify what happens if a student breaks these rules.
- It is unclear how schools will enforce these new policies without involving school resource officers.