Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB65 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB65INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB65
4	4	18JW3ZZ-1
5	5	By Representative Sellers
6	6	RFD: Education Policy
7	7	First Read: 04-Feb-25
8	8	PFD: 18-Nov-24
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14	14	6 18JW3ZZ-1 11/14/2024 GP (L)lg 2024-2867
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16	16	PFD: 18-Nov-24
17	17	SYNOPSIS:
18	18	Under existing law, local boards of education
19	19	have the authority to adopt local policies relating to
20	20	pocket pagers, cellular telephones, and other
21	21	electronic communication devices.
22	22	This bill would require the State Board of
23	23	Education to adopt a model policy restricting the use
24	24	of cell phones and other electronic communication
25	25	devices in public K-12 schools during the school day,
26	26	with some exceptions.
27	27	This bill would also require each local board of
28	28	education to adopt a policy relating to the use of
29	29	electronic communication devices based on that model
30	30	policy.
31	31	A BILL
32	32	TO BE ENTITLED
33	33	AN ACT
34	34	Relating to public K-12 education; to amend Section
35	35	16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975; to require the State Board of
36	36	Education to adopt a model policy restricting the use of cell
37	37	phones in public K-12 schools; and to require each local board
38	38	of education to adopt a policy based on that model.
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66	66	28 HB65 INTRODUCED
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68	68	of education to adopt a policy based on that model.
69	69	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
70	70	Section 1. Section 16-1-27, Code of Alabama 1975, is
71	71	amended to read as follows:
72	72	"§16-1-27
73	73	(a) A local board of education may permit any pupil to
74	74	carry a pocket pager, cellular telephone, or other electronic
75	75	communication device while on school property and may permit
76	76	any pupil to use a pocket pager, cellular telephone, or other
77	77	electronic communication device, when such use is expressly
78	78	and specifically permitted by the school administrator,
79	79	teacher, or employee who is acting in a supervisory capacity
80	80	at the time of the use. For purposes of this section, the
81	81	following terms have the following meanings:
82	82	(1) ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE. Any privately
83	83	owned, portable wireless device that has the capability to
84	84	provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between
85	85	two or more parties including, but not limited to, a cellular
86	86	phone, tablet, computer, pager, or other electronic messaging
87	87	device. This term does not include any device that is owned or
88	88	issued to students by the local board of education.
89	89	(2) STATE BOARD. The State Board of Education.
90	90	(b)(1) No later than January 1, 2026, the state board
91	91	shall adopt a model policy that prohibits public K-12 students
92	92	from using an electronic communication device during the
93	93	school day.
94	94	(2) The model policy shall provide exceptions
95	95	including, but not limited to, permitting a student to use an
96	96	electronic communication device:
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126	126	electronic communication device:
127	127	a. In the event of an emergency or to manage the
128	128	student's health care; or
129	129	b. If the use is included in the student's
130	130	individualized education program (IEP) or a plan developed
131	131	under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.
132	132	§ 794. Any pupil found in violation of this section shall be
133	133	subject to suspension by the board of education.
134	134	(c) Each No later than the beginning of the 2026-2027
135	135	school year, each local board of education may adopt shall
136	136	adopt and implement a local policy that pertains to pocket
137	137	pagers, cellular telephones, and other electronic
138	138	communication devices relating to the use of electronic
139	139	communication devices on school property. The policy, at a
140	140	minimum, shall reflect the model policy adopted by the state
141	141	board."
142	142	Section 2. This act shall become effective on June 1,
143	143	2025.
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