AL
Alabama House Bill HB166

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB166 Compare Versions

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55 By Representatives Hulsey, Collins, Baker, Faulkner, DuBose
66 RFD: Education Policy
77 First Read: 04-Feb-25
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15+SYNOPSIS:
16+Under existing law, a local board of education may
17+permit a pupil to carry or use a pocket pager, cellular
18+telephone, or other electronic communication device while
19+on school property. This bill would repeal that law.
20+This bill would prohibit a student from using,
21+operating, or possessing a wireless communications device
22+on public elementary or secondary school grounds during
23+the instructional day subject to certain exceptions and
24+subject to written policies adopted by a local board of
25+education to implement this act.
26+This bill would require each local board of
27+education to adopt an internet safety policy that
28+addresses student access to the internet on
29+district-owned devices.
30+This bill would require students to receive
31+instruction on the risks and benefits of social media
32+and how to use social media safely prior to entering
33+the eighth grade.
1534 A BILL
1635 TO BE ENTITLED
1736 AN ACT
18-Relating to public K-12 education; to establish the
19-Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety
20-(FOCUS) Act; to prohibit the use, operation, and possession of
21-wireless communication devices on certain public school
22-properties; to require local boards of education to adopt an
23-Internet safety policy; to add Section 16-40-13 to the Code of
24-Alabama 1975, to require students to complete a social media
25-safety course prior to entering the eighth grade; and to
26-repeal Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975, providing for
27-the use of electronic communication devices on school
28-property.
29-BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
30-Section 1.The Legislature finds and declares the
31-following:
32-(1) Each student in an Alabama public K-12 school should
33-be college-ready or career-ready upon high school graduation.
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61-be college-ready or career-ready upon high school graduation.
66+Relating to public K-12 education; to prohibit the use,
67+operation, and possession of wireless communication devices on
68+certain public school properties; to require local boards of
69+education to adopt an Internet safety policy; to add Section
70+16-40-13, Code of Alabama 1975, to require students to
71+complete a social media safety course prior to entering the
72+eighth grade; and to repeal Section 16-1-27.
73+BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
74+Section 1.(a) The Legislature finds:
75+(1) Each student in an Alabama public K-12 school should
76+be college- or career-ready upon high school graduation.
6277 (2) Many high school teachers believe that cell phones
6378 and other electronic communication devices are distracting
6479 students in the classroom.
6580 (3) Studies have shown that cell phones and other
6681 electronic communication devices are negatively impacting
6782 learning outcomes.
6883 (4) Studies have shown that increased social media usage
6984 may negatively affect the mental health of school-aged
7085 children.
71-Section 2.For the purposes of this act, the following
86+Section 2. (a) As used in this section, the following
7287 terms have the following meanings:
7388 (1) INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. The period of time during which a
7489 public elementary or secondary school is open and in session
7590 for purpose of meeting the minimum number of instructional
76-days or hours pursuant to Section 16-13-231, Code of Alabama
77-1975. The term also includes class transitions, lunch,
78-non-instructional times, and any other time specified in a
79-wireless communication device policy.
80-(2) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE. A cellular telephone,
81-tablet computer, laptop computer, pager, gaming device, or any
82-other portable electronic device identified in a wireless
83-communication device policy that has the capability of
84-exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with
85-another electronic device.
86-(3) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY. A written
87-policy adopted by a local board of education to implement this
88-act.
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91+days or hours pursuant to Section 16-13-231. The term also
92+includes any other time specified in a wireless communication
93+device policy.
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117-act.
118-Section 3. (a) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year,
119-no student shall use or operate any wireless communication
120-device in any public elementary or secondary school building
121-or on the grounds thereof during the instructional day.
122-(b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, no student
123+device policy.
124+(2) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE. A cellular telephone,
125+tablet computer, laptop computer, pager, gaming device, or any
126+other portable electronic device identified in a wireless
127+communication device policy that has the capability of
128+exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with
129+another electronic device.
130+(3) WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE POLICY. A written
131+policy adopted by a local board of education to implement this
132+section.
133+(b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, no student
134+shall use or operate any wireless communication device in any
135+public elementary or secondary school building or on the
136+grounds thereof during the instructional day.
137+(c) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, no student
123138 may possess a wireless communication device in any public
124139 elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds
125140 thereof during the instructional day unless the wireless
126-communication device is turned off and stored off their person
127-in a locker, car, or similar storage location.
128-(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a student
141+communication device is turned off and stored in a locker,
142+backpack, car, or similar storage location.
143+(d) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (c), a student
129144 may use, operate, or possess a wireless communication device
130145 in a public elementary or secondary school building or on the
131146 grounds thereof during the instructional day in any of the
132147 following circumstances:
133148 (1) The use, operation, or possession is pursuant to the
134-student's Individualized Education Program, Individualized
149+student’s Individualized Education Program, Individualized
135150 Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health
136151 Plan.
137-(2) The use, operation, or possession is for educational
138-or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of
139-education personnel.
140-(3) The use, operation, or possession occurs during an
141-emergency threatening the life or safety of the student or
142-another person.
143-(d) No later than July 1, 2025, each local board of
144-education shall adopt a wireless communication device policy.
145-The wireless communication device policy shall include
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175-The wireless communication device policy shall include
181+Plan.
182+(2) The use, operation, or possession is for educational
183+or learning purposes under the supervision of local board of
184+education personnel.
185+(3) The use, operation, or possession occurs during an
186+emergency threatening the health, safety, or well-being of the
187+student or another person.
188+(4) The use, operation, or possession is for a health,
189+safety, family or educational purpose as authorized in a
190+wireless communication device policy.
191+(e) No later than July 1, 2026, each local board of
192+education shall adopt a wireless communication device policy.
193+The wireless communication device policy shall permit students
194+to use, possess, and operate wireless communication devices
195+for a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed ten minutes,
196+during the instructional day during the time set by the
197+policy. The wireless communication device policy shall include
176198 consequences for violations. The local board of education
177199 shall reasonably distribute the wireless communication device
178-policy to students, parents, faculty, staff, and the State
179-Board of Education.
180-Section 4.(a) No later than July 1, 2025, each local
200+policy to students, parents, faculty, and staff.
201+Section 3.(a) No later than July 1, 2026, each local
181202 board of education shall adopt an internet safety policy that
182203 addresses student access to the internet on devices owned by
183204 the local board of education.
184205 (b) The policy shall do all of the following:
185206 (1) Limit internet access by students to only
186207 age-appropriate subject matters and materials deemed
187208 age-appropriate pursuant to the policy.
188-(2) Provide specific procedures and other protections
189-that prioritize the safety and security of students when using
190-email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic
191-communication.
192-(3) Prohibit access by students to unlawfully obtained
193-data or information, including hacking, and other unlawful
194-online activity by students.
195-(4) Prohibit access to websites, web applications, or
196-software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or
197-dissemination of their personal information.
198-(5) Prohibit students from accessing social media
199-platforms, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely
200-for educational purposes.
201-(c) The principal shall be responsible for ensuring
202-consistent compliance with the policy by school personnel.
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231-consistent compliance with the policy by school personnel.
232-Section 5. (a) Each certificated staff member employed by
233-the local board education shall complete an annual written
234-anonymous survey regarding the implementation of the wireless
235-communication device policy and to measure uniform compliance
236-within the school.
237-(b) On or before October 1, 2025, the State Department of
238-Education shall develop a survey to assess the levels of
239-participation and compliance with the wireless communication
240-device policy. On or before June 1, each subsequent year, the
241-annual survey results shall be submitted by the principal to
242-the local superintendent of education, local board of
243-education, and the State Board of Education for publication on
244-the website of the State Department of Education.
245-Section 6.Section 16-40-13 is added to the Code of
237+age-appropriate pursuant to the policy.
238+(2) Protect the safety and security of students when
239+using email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic
240+communication.
241+(3) Prohibit access by students to unlawfully obtained
242+data or information, including hacking, and other unlawful
243+online activity by students.
244+(4) Prevent access to websites, web applications, or
245+software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or
246+dissemination of their personal information.
247+(5) Prohibit and prevent students from accessing social
248+media platforms, except when expressly directed by a teacher
249+solely for educational purposes.
250+Section 4.Section 16-40-13 is added to the Code of
246251 Alabama to read as follows:
247-§16-40-13
248-(a) No later than July 1, 2025, the State Department of
252+Ҥ 16-40-13
253+(a) No later than July 1, 2026, the State Department of
249254 Education shall develop and approve an asynchronous, digitally
250255 delivered course that addresses the risks of using social
251256 media and how to use social media safely.
252257 (b) At a minimum, the course shall include the following
253258 topics:
254259 (1) The benefits of safely using age-appropriate social
255260 media platforms, including career and resume building for
256261 future academic or employment opportunities; sharing
257262 information with family and friends; and safely connecting
258263 with other users with similar interests.
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265+effects on mental health, including addiction; the
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287-with other users with similar interests.
288-(2) The risks of social media use including its negative
289295 effects on mental health, including addiction; the
290296 distribution of misinformation on social media; how social
291-media manipulates behavior; and the permanency of sharing
297+media manipulates behavior; the permanency of sharing
292298 materials online.
293299 (3) Safe practices for using social media including how
294300 to report suspicious behavior; how to identify cyberbullying,
295301 phishing and scam communications, predatory behavior, and
296302 human trafficking; and maintaining personal security and
297303 preventing oversharing of personal information.
298-(c) The State Department of Education shall make the
299-course available online and each local board of education
300-shall reasonably notify parents of its availability. Each
301-local board of education shall deliver the course to all
302-students prior to entering the eighth grade and shall make the
303-course available to students in grades eight through 12 who
304-transfer to the school district or who otherwise have not
305-completed the course.
304+(c) The Department of Education shall make the course
305+available online and each local board of education shall
306+reasonably notify parents of its availability. Each local
307+board of education shall deliver the course to all students
308+prior to entering the eighth grade and shall make the course
309+available to students in grades eight through 12 who transfer
310+to the school district or who otherwise have not completed the
311+course.
306312 (d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
307-implement this section.
308-Section 7. Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975,
313+implement the provisions of this section.”
314+Section 5. Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975,
309315 providing for the use of electronic communications devices on
310316 school property, is repealed.
311-Section 8. This act shall become effective immediately.
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317+Section 6. This act shall become effective immediately
318+following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its
319+otherwise becoming law.
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337-Section 8. This act shall become effective immediately.
338-House of Representatives
339-Read for the first time and referred
340-to the House of Representatives
341-committee on Education Policy
342-................04-Feb-25
343-Read for the second time and placed
344-on the calendar:
345- 0 amendments
346-................27-Feb-25
347-Read for the third time and passed
348-as amended
349-Yeas 79
350-Nays 15
351-Abstains 9
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353-John Treadwell
354-Clerk
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