SB2427 EngrossedLRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 AN ACT concerning education. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 5 10-20.88, 27A-5.3, and 34-18.14a as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new) 7 Sec. 10-20.88. Wireless communication device policy. 8 (a) As used in this Section: 9 "Instructional time" means the time during a school day 10 students spend learning and participating in school 11 activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 12 passing time, or lunch time. 13 "Wireless communication device" means any portable 14 wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 15 messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 16 parties, including, but not limited to: 17 (1) cellular telephones; 18 (2) tablet computers; 19 (3) laptop computers; 20 (4) gaming devices; and 21 (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart 22 glasses. 23 "Wireless communication device" does not include any device SB2427 Engrossed LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 that a school district or teacher has directly issued to, 2 provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 3 educational purposes during instructional time. 4 (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school 5 board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication 6 device policy that: 7 (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a 8 wireless communication device during instructional time, 9 except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d); 10 and 11 (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible 12 storage of wireless devices during instructional time or 13 directs the district superintendent or his or her designee 14 to provide such guidance. However, this paragraph (2) does 15 not preclude a school district from prohibiting the use or 16 possession of wireless communication devices for students 17 not meeting one of the exceptions set forth in subsection 18 (c) or (d). 19 (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 20 (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless 21 communication device during instructional time under the 22 following circumstances: 23 (1) if a licensed physician determines that the 24 possession or use of a wireless communication device is 25 necessary for the health or well-being of the student and 26 the student uses the wireless communication device as SB2427 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 prescribed by the licensed physician; 2 (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or 3 a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal 4 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or 5 (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary 6 for students who are English learners, as defined in 7 Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials. 8 (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 9 (b) may allow for the following exceptions: 10 (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to 11 use a wireless communication device for educational 12 purposes; and 13 (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at 14 least one of the school district's emergency and crises 15 response plans, protocols, or procedures. 16 (e) No school district may enforce the wireless 17 communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 18 deployment of a school resource officer or local law 19 enforcement officer. 20 (f) Each school board shall review its wireless 21 communication device policy at least once every 3 years and 22 make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy. 23 (g) A school district shall publicly post the policy 24 adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website. 25 If the school district does not operate a website, then the 26 school district shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and SB2427 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 4 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians 2 of every student enrolled in the school district. 3 (105 ILCS 5/27A-5.3 new) 4 Sec. 27A-5.3. Wireless communication device policy. 5 (a) As used in this Section: 6 "Instructional time" means the time during a school day 7 students spend learning and participating in school 8 activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 9 passing time, or lunch time. 10 "Wireless communication device" means any portable 11 wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 12 messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 13 parties, including, but not limited to: 14 (1) cellular telephones; 15 (2) tablet computers; 16 (3) laptop computers; 17 (4) gaming devices; and 18 (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart 19 glasses. 20 "Wireless communication device" does not include any device 21 that a charter school or teacher has directly issued to, 22 provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 23 educational purposes during instructional time. 24 (b) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each charter 25 school shall adopt and implement a wireless communication SB2427 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 5 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 device policy that: 2 (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a 3 wireless communication device during instructional time, 4 except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d); 5 and 6 (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible 7 storage of wireless devices during instructional time. 8 However, this paragraph (2) does not preclude a charter 9 school from prohibiting the use or possession of wireless 10 communication devices for students not meeting one of the 11 exceptions set forth in subsection (c) or (d). 12 (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 13 (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless 14 communication device during instructional time under the 15 following circumstances: 16 (1) if a licensed physician determines that the 17 possession or use of a wireless communication device is 18 necessary for the health or well-being of the student and 19 the student uses the wireless communication device as 20 prescribed by the licensed physician; 21 (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or 22 a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal 23 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or 24 (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary 25 for students who are English learners, as defined in 26 Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials. SB2427 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 6 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 2 (b) may allow for the following exceptions: 3 (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to 4 use a wireless communication device for educational 5 purposes; and 6 (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at 7 least one of the charter school's emergency and crises 8 response plans, protocols, or procedures. 9 (e) No charter school may enforce the wireless 10 communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 11 deployment of a school resource officer or local law 12 enforcement officer. 13 (f) A charter school shall review its wireless 14 communication device policy at least once every 3 years and 15 make any necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy. 16 (g) A charter school shall publicly post the policy 17 adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website. 18 If the charter school does not operate a website, then the 19 charter school shall provide a copy of the policy adopted and 20 implemented under subsection (b) to the parents or guardians 21 of every student enrolled in the charter school. 22 (105 ILCS 5/34-18.14a new) 23 Sec. 34-18.14a. Wireless communication device policy. 24 (a) As used in this Section: 25 "Instructional time" means the time during a school day SB2427 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 7 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 students spend learning and participating in school 2 activities. "Instructional time" does not include recess, 3 passing time, or lunch time. 4 "Wireless communication device" means any portable 5 wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, 6 messaging, or other data communication between 2 or more 7 parties, including, but not limited to: 8 (1) cellular telephones; 9 (2) tablet computers; 10 (3) laptop computers; 11 (4) gaming devices; and 12 (5) wearable devices, including smart watches or smart 13 glasses. 14 "Wireless communication device" does not include any device 15 that the school district or teacher has directly issued to, 16 provided for, or required a student to possess and use for 17 educational purposes during instructional time. 18 (b) On or before the 2026-2027 school year, the board 19 shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device 20 policy that: 21 (1) at a minimum, prohibits a student from using a 22 wireless communication device during instructional time, 23 except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d); 24 and 25 (2) incorporates guidance for secure and accessible 26 storage of wireless devices during instructional time or SB2427 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 8 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 directs the general superintendent of schools or his or 2 her designee to provide such guidance. However, this 3 paragraph (2) does not preclude the school district from 4 prohibiting the use or possession of wireless 5 communication devices for students not meeting one of the 6 exceptions set forth in subsection (c) or (d). 7 (c) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 8 (b) may not prohibit a student from using a wireless 9 communication device during instructional time under the 10 following circumstances: 11 (1) if a licensed physician determines that the 12 possession or use of a wireless communication device is 13 necessary for the health or well-being of the student and 14 the student uses the wireless communication device as 15 prescribed by the licensed physician; 16 (2) to fulfill an individualized education program or 17 a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal 18 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or 19 (3) if the wireless communication device is necessary 20 for students who are English learners, as defined in 21 Section 14C-2 of this Code, to access learning materials. 22 (d) The policy adopted and implemented under subsection 23 (b) may allow for the following exceptions: 24 (1) if school personnel have authorized the student to 25 use a wireless communication device for educational 26 purposes; and SB2427 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed- 9 -LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b SB2427 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 12240 LNS 22347 b 1 (2) in the event of an emergency as detailed in at 2 least one of the school district's emergency and crises 3 response plans, protocols, or procedures. 4 (e) The school district may not enforce the wireless 5 communication device policy through fees, fines, or the 6 deployment of a school resource officer or local law 7 enforcement officer. 8 (f) The board shall review its wireless communication 9 device policy at least once every 3 years and make any 10 necessary and appropriate revisions to the policy. 11 (g) The school district shall publicly post the policy 12 adopted and implemented under subsection (b) on its website. 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