HLS 22RS-719 REENGROSSED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 548
BY REPRESENTATIVES FREEMAN, MOORE, AND SCHLEGEL AND SENATORS
BARROW AND MIZELL
EDUCATION: Requires the state Department of Education to develop and distribute health
and safety guidelines relative to best practices for the use of digital devices in public
schools
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:3921.4, relative to digital devices in public schools; to require the state
3 Department of Education to develop health and safety guidelines for the use of
4 digital devices in public schools; to require collaboration with the Louisiana
5 Department of Health and others in developing the guidelines; to provide for the
6 content of the guidelines; to require the state Department of Education to distribute
7 the guidelines to public school governing authorities; to provide for an effective date;
8 and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:3921.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 ยง3921.4. Digital devices in public schools; health and safety guidelines
12 A. The state Department of Education, in collaboration with the Louisiana
13 Department of Health and medical practitioners in relevant specialties such as
14 ophthalmology, optometry, childhood obesity, heart disease, sleep occupational
15 therapy, kinesiology, and ergonomics as well as parents, teachers, and school
16 administrators, shall develop health and safety guidelines relative to best practices
17 for the effective integration of digital devices in public schools. The state
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-719 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 548
1 Department of Education shall distribute the guidelines to public school governing
2 authorities for implementation.
3 B. The guidelines shall be based on peer-reviewed, independently funded
4 studies and shall address, at a minimum, digital device use for different age ranges
5 and developmental levels, the amount of time spent on school-issued digital devices
6 in the classroom and at home, appropriate break frequency from the use of digital
7 devices, the physical positioning of digital devices in the classroom, the use of digital
8 devices for homework, and the training of teachers relative to these issues.
9 C. The department shall review the guidelines at least once annually and
10 revise them based on updated medical information, as needed. The department shall
11 distribute revised guidelines to each public school governing authority.
12 Section 2. The state Department of Education shall distribute guidelines to public
13school governing authorities pursuant to R.S. 17:3291.4(A) as enacted by this Act not later
14than January 1, 2023.
15 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
16signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
17by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
18vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
19effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 548 Reengrossed 2022 Regular Session Freeman
Abstract: Provides for health and safety guidelines relative to the use of digital devices in
public schools.
Proposed law requires the state Dept. of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the La.
Dept. of Health and medical practitioners in certain fields, to develop health and safety
guidelines relative to best practices for the effective integration of digital devices in public
schools. Requires DOE to distribute the guidelines to public school governing authorities
for implementation. Further requires DOE to annually review the guidelines.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 22RS-719 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 548
Effective upon signature of governor of lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3921.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Change the requirement for DOE to collaborate with LDH and professional
medical societies to a requirement that DOE collaborate with LDH and certain
medical practitioners.
2. Add requirements for DOE to annually review the guidelines.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.