EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0192*
HOUSE BILL 192
F1 5lr0679
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Mangione
Requested: August 13, 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 – Student Cellular Phone Use Policy – Established 2
(No Distracted Learning Act) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring county boards of education to adopt a policy that prohibits 4
students from using a cellular phone during certain school hours except under 5
certain circumstances; and generally relating to student cellular phone use policies 6
and county boards of education. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–136 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
7–136. 16
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANING S 17
INDICATED. 18
(2) “INSTRUCTIONAL TIME ” MEANS ANY TIME DURIN G THE SCHOOL 19
DAY, EXCLUDING A STUDENT’S LUNCH PERIOD. 20
2 HOUSE BILL 192
(3) “PASSING PERIOD ” MEANS THE TIME PERIOD BEFORE AND 1
BETWEEN CLASSES WHEN STUDENTS WA LK THROUGH THE SCHOOL BUILDING OR 2
SCHOOL GROUNDS TO MOVE FROM ONE CLA SS TO ANOTHER . 3
(B) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL ADOPT A POLICY PROHIBITING STUDENTS 4
FROM USING A CELLULAR PHONE DUR ING SCHOOL HOURS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. 6
(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 7
THE STUDENT CELLULAR PHO NE USE POLICY FOR ELEMENTARY AND M IDDLE 8
SCHOOL STUDENTS SHALL PROHIBIT THE USE OR DISPLAY OF A CELLULA R PHONE 9
DURING: 10
(I) INSTRUCTIONAL TIME; 11
(II) THE STUDENT’S LUNCH PERIOD; AND 12
(III) IF APPLICABLE, A PASSING PERIOD . 13
(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 14
THE STUDENT CELLULAR PHO NE USE POLICY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHALL 15
PROHIBIT THE USE AND DISPLAY OF A CELLULAR PHONE DURING: 16
(I) INSTRUCTIONAL TIME; AND 17
(II) A PASSING PERIOD . 18
(3) A POLICY ADOPTED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT PROHIBIT A 19
STUDENT WITH AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM, A SECTION 504 PLAN, 20
OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTED HEALTH ISSUE THAT REQUIRES THE USE OF AN 21
ELECTRONIC DEVICE FROM USING THE STUDENT’S CELLULAR PHONE FOR THAT 22
PURPOSE. 23
(D) (1) A STUDENT IN VIOLATION OF A POLICY ESTABLISHED U NDER THIS 24
SECTION IS SUBJECT TO: 25
(I) FOR A FIRST VIOLATION, A WARNING; 26
(II) FOR A SECOND VIOLATION, CONFISCATION OF THE 27
CELLULAR PHONE ; AND 28
(III) FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION S, A DISCIPLINARY 29
ACTION ESTABLISHED BY THE C OUNTY BOARD . 30 HOUSE BILL 192 3
(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 1
PARAGRAPH , A CELLULAR PHONE CONFI SCATED FROM A STUDENT IN ACCORDANCE 2
WITH PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MUST BE RETRIEVED BY THE STUDENT ’S 3
PARENT OR GUARDIAN . 4
(II) IF A STUDENT’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN NOTIFIES TH E 5
SCHOOL THAT THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE STUDENT ’S 6
CONFISCATED CELLULAR PHONE , THE SCHOOL SHALL RETURN THE CELLULAR 7
PHONE TO THE STUDENT AT THE END OF THE SC HOOL DAY. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 9
1, 2025. 10