EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0147*
HOUSE BILL 147
F1 5lr1207
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegates Wu, Grammer, T. Morgan, Pasteur, and Patterson
Requested: October 14, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
County Boards of Education – Elementary and Middle Schools – Student 2
Technology Use Policy 3
FOR the purpose of requiring certain county boards of education to develop and adopt a 4
policy that prohibits elementary and middle school students from using a cellular 5
phone or personal electronic device during the school day except under certain 6
circumstances; and generally relating to county boards of education and a student 7
technology use policy for elementary and middle schools. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Education 10
Section 7–136 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Education 16
7–136. 17
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE ” MEANS ANY 18
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR INDIVIDUA L USE, INCLUDING A SMARTPHONE , 19
TABLET, LAPTOP, OR SMARTWATCH . 20
(B) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A COUNTY BO ARD THAT HAS AN 21
EXISTING POLICY LIMITING THE USE OF CELLULAR PHON ES AND PERSONAL 22
ELECTRONIC DEVICES BY STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY AND MI DDLE SCHOOL S 23 2 HOUSE BILL 147
DURING SCHOOL HOURS . 1
(C) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL DEVELOP AND ADOPT A POLICY THAT 2
PROHIBITS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT FROM USING 3
A CELLULAR PHONE OR PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICE DURING SCHOOL HOURS . 4
(D) A POLICY DEVELOPED UND ER THIS SECTION MAY NOT PROHIBIT A 5
STUDENT FROM USING A CELLULAR PHONE OR PE RSONAL ELECTRONIC DE VICE: 6
(1) FOR ANY PURPOSE DOCUM ENTED IN THE STUDENT ’S 7
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCA TION PROGRAM OR SECTION 504 PLAN; 8
(2) TO MONITOR OR ADDRESS A STUDENT’S DOCUMENTED HEALTH 9
ISSUE; OR 10
(3) WHEN DIRECTED BY AN E DUCATOR OR ADMINISTR ATOR FOR 11
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES . 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2025. 14