HB166ENGROSSED
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HB166
W11V3EE-2
By Representatives Hulsey, Collins, Baker, Faulkner, DuBose
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 04-Feb-25
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First Read: 04-Feb-25
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public K-12 education; to establish the
Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety
(FOCUS) Act; to prohibit the use, operation, and possession of
wireless communication devices on certain public school
properties; to require local boards of education to adopt an
Internet safety policy; to add Section 16-40-13 to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to require students to complete a social media
safety course prior to entering the eighth grade; and to
repeal Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975, providing for
the use of electronic communication devices on school
property.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1.The Legislature finds and declares the
following:
(1) Each student in an Alabama public K-12 school should
be college-ready or career-ready upon high school graduation.
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be college-ready or career-ready upon high school graduation.
(2) Many high school teachers believe that cell phones
and other electronic communication devices are distracting
students in the classroom.
(3) Studies have shown that cell phones and other
electronic communication devices are negatively impacting
learning outcomes.
(4) Studies have shown that increased social media usage
may negatively affect the mental health of school-aged
children.
Section 2.For the purposes of this act, the following
terms have the following meanings:
(1) INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. The period of time during which a
public elementary or secondary school is open and in session
for purpose of meeting the minimum number of instructional
days or hours pursuant to Section 16-13-231, Code of Alabama
1975. The term also includes class transitions, lunch,
non-instructional times, and any other time specified in a
wireless communication device policy.
(2) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE. A cellular telephone,
tablet computer, laptop computer, pager, gaming device, or any
other portable electronic device identified in a wireless
communication device policy that has the capability of
exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with
another electronic device.
(3) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY. A written
policy adopted by a local board of education to implement this
act.
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act.
Section 3. (a) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year,
no student shall use or operate any wireless communication
device in any public elementary or secondary school building
or on the grounds thereof during the instructional day.
(b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, no student
may possess a wireless communication device in any public
elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds
thereof during the instructional day unless the wireless
communication device is turned off and stored off their person
in a locker, car, or similar storage location.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a student
may use, operate, or possess a wireless communication device
in a public elementary or secondary school building or on the
grounds thereof during the instructional day in any of the
following circumstances:
(1) The use, operation, or possession is pursuant to the
student's Individualized Education Program, Individualized
Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health
Plan.
(2) The use, operation, or possession is for educational
or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of
education personnel.
(3) The use, operation, or possession occurs during an
emergency threatening the life or safety of the student or
another person.
(d) No later than July 1, 2025, each local board of
education shall adopt a wireless communication device policy.
The wireless communication device policy shall include
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The wireless communication device policy shall include
consequences for violations. The local board of education
shall reasonably distribute the wireless communication device
policy to students, parents, faculty, staff, and the State
Board of Education.
Section 4.(a) No later than July 1, 2025, each local
board of education shall adopt an Internet safety policy that
addresses student access to the Internet on devices owned by
the local board of education.
(b) The policy shall do all of the following:
(1) Limit Internet access by students to only
age-appropriate subject matters and materials deemed
age-appropriate pursuant to the policy.
(2) Provide specific procedures and other protections
that prioritize the safety and security of students when using
email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic
communication.
(3) Prohibit access by students to unlawfully obtained
data or information, including hacking, and other unlawful
online activity by students.
(4) Prohibit access to websites, web applications, or
software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or
dissemination of their personal information.
(5) Prohibit students from accessing social media
platforms, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely
for educational purposes.
(c) The principal shall be responsible for ensuring
consistent compliance with the policy by school personnel.
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consistent compliance with the policy by school personnel.
Section 5. (a) Each certificated staff member employed by
the local board education shall complete an annual written
anonymous survey regarding the implementation of the wireless
communication device policy and to measure uniform compliance
within the school.
(b) On or before October 1, 2025, the State Department of
Education shall develop a survey to assess the levels of
participation and compliance with the wireless communication
device policy. On or before June 1, each subsequent year, the
annual survey results shall be submitted by the principal to
the local superintendent of education, local board of
education, and the State Board of Education for publication on
the website of the State Department of Education.
Section 6.Section 16-40-13 is added to the Code of
Alabama to read as follows:
ยง16-40-13
(a) No later than July 1, 2025, the State Department of
Education shall develop and approve an asynchronous, digitally
delivered course that addresses the risks of using social
media and how to use social media safely.
(b) At a minimum, the course shall include the following
topics:
(1) The benefits of safely using age-appropriate social
media platforms, including career and resume building for
future academic or employment opportunities; sharing
information with family and friends; and safely connecting
with other users with similar interests.
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with other users with similar interests.
(2) The risks of social media use including its negative
effects on mental health, including addiction; the
distribution of misinformation on social media; how social
media manipulates behavior; and the permanency of sharing
materials online.
(3) Safe practices for using social media including how
to report suspicious behavior; how to identify cyberbullying,
phishing and scam communications, predatory behavior, and
human trafficking; and maintaining personal security and
preventing oversharing of personal information.
(c) The State Department of Education shall make the
course available online and each local board of education
shall reasonably notify parents of its availability. Each
local board of education shall deliver the course to all
students prior to entering the eighth grade and shall make the
course available to students in grades eight through 12 who
transfer to the school district or who otherwise have not
completed the course.
(d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
implement this section.
Section 7. Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975,
providing for the use of electronic communications devices on
school property, is repealed.
Section 8. This act shall become effective immediately.
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Section 8. This act shall become effective immediately.
House of Representatives
Read for the first time and referred
to the House of Representatives
committee on Education Policy
................04-Feb-25
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
0 amendments
................27-Feb-25
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yeas 79
Nays 15
Abstains 9
................03-Apr-25
John Treadwell
Clerk
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