Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S323 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1653 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 323
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Brendan P. Crighton
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act providing for phone free schools.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird EssexMark C. MontignySecond Bristol and Plymouth2/28/2025 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1653 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 323
18	18	By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 323) of Brendan P. Crighton and
19	19	Mark C. Montigny for legislation to prohibit the use to personal electronic devices in schools.
20	20	Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act providing for phone free schools.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
30	30	2section:-
31	31	3 Section 38. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
32	32	4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
33	33	5 “Board'', the board of elementary and secondary education.
34	34	6 ''Commissioner'', the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
35	35	7 ''Department', the department of elementary and secondary education.
36	36	8 “Personal electronic devices”, any electronic equipment capable of collecting, processing
37	37	9or transferring data including, but not limited to, smartphones, cellular phones, tablets or gaming
38	38	10devices. 2 of 3
39	39	11 (b) Each school district shall have a comprehensive policy to prohibit student access to
40	40	12personal electronic devices during the school day. Policies shall include restrictions that align
41	41	13with the developmental level of students and the structure of the school day in each grade level
42	42	14and school and shall consider guidance issued by the department. This policy shall not preclude
43	43	15the use of school-issued or sanctioned devices that serve a legitimate educational purpose.
44	44	16 Each school district shall engage in a public comment period to receive feedback from
45	45	17school leaders, educators, families, students and relevant stakeholders while developing the
46	46	18policy.
47	47	19 Each school district shall ensure that behavioral expectations related to personal
48	48	20electronic devices are included in the relevant student code of conduct and shall educate the
49	49	21students on issues related to the use of personal electronic devices, including, but not limited to:
50	50	22(i) cyberbullying; (ii) accessing or sharing inappropriate content; (iii) recording or taking
51	51	23photographs without consent; (iv) plagiarism; and (v) the unapproved use of artificial
52	52	24intelligence software and applications.
53	53	25 Each school district shall submit their policy as required under this subsection to the
54	54	26department for approval. To receive approval from the department, policies shall include a
55	55	27prohibition on access to personal electronic devices during the school day, including during
56	56	28times spent outside of the classroom, and specific procedures for collecting, isolating and
57	57	29returning personal electronic devices.
58	58	30 The department shall provide technical assistance to school districts for policy
59	59	31development and implementation. 3 of 3
60	60	32 SECTION 2. Not later than 6 months after the effective date of this act, the department of
61	61	33elementary and secondary education and the board of elementary and secondary education shall
62	62	34issue guidance for school districts to consider when drafting and adopting the policy required
63	63	35under section 38 of chapter 69 of the General Laws. Such guidance shall emphasize creating
64	64	36engaging spaces for learning and mitigating the negative impact that cell phones have on student
65	65	37learning and shall include considerations for specific policies and practices for elementary,
66	66	38middle, and high school students based on developmental readiness and maturity.
67	67	39 The guidance shall address areas including, but not be limited to: (i) provisions for school
68	68	40and student health and safety, including dedicated methods for parents to communicate with their
69	69	41children; (ii) exceptions to the policy based on a student’s individualized education plan; (iii)
70	70	42accommodations under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. section 794, or
71	71	43individualized health or learning plan or any other accommodations under state or federal law,
72	72	44including, but not limited to, title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. sections
73	73	4512131–12165; (iv) compliance with applicable federal and state laws; and (v) impact on
74	74	46multilingual learners.
75	75	47 SECTION 3. Subsection (b) of section 38 of chapter 69 of the General Laws shall take
76	76	48effect not later than six months after the department of elementary and secondary education has
77	77	49issued its guidance.