EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0130*
SENATE BILL 130
F1 5lr0757
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Benson
Requested: September 5, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
County Boards of Education – Student Cellular Device Use Policy – Established 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to develop and implement a 3
policy that prohibits students from using a cellular device during the school day 4
except under certain circumstances; and generally relating to county boards of 5
education and student cellular device use policy. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Education 8
Section 4–147 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Education 14
4–147. 15
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 16
INDICATED. 17
(2) “CELLULAR DEVICE ” MEANS ANY PORTABLE , WIRELESS 18
COMMUNICATION DEVICE , INCLUDING A SMARTPHONE , TABLET, OR WEARABLE 19
DEVICE. 20
(3) “INSTRUCTIONAL TIME ” MEANS ANY TIME DURIN G THE SCHOOL 21
DAY, EXCEPT A STUDENT ’S LUNCH PERIOD . 22 2 SENATE BILL 130
(B) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A POLICY TO 1
PROHIBIT THE USE OF A CELLULAR DEVICE BY STUDENTS DURING INSTRUCTIONAL 2
TIME. 3
(C) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, THE 4
POLICY DEVELOPED UND ER THIS SECTION SHALL: 5
(1) PROHIBIT A STUDENT FR OM USING A CELLULAR DEVICE DURING 6
INSTRUCTIONAL TIME ; AND 7
(2) REQUIRE A STUDENT TO STORE THE STUDENT ’S CELLULAR 8
DEVICE IN A SECURE STORAGE CONTAINER. 9
(D) THE POLICY DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION M AY NOT PROHIBIT A 10
STUDENT FROM USING A CELLULAR DEVICE: 11
(1) FOR ANY PURPOSE DOCUM ENTED IN A STUDENT’S 12
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCA TION PROGRAM OR SECTION 504 PLAN; 13
(2) TO MONITOR OR ADDRESS A STUDENT’S HEALTH ISSUE THAT HAS 14
BEEN DOCUMENT ED BY A LICENSED MEDICAL P ROFESSIONAL ; OR 15
(3) FOR EDUCATION PURPOSE S WHEN DIRECTED BY AN EDUCA TOR 16
OR ADMINISTRATOR . 17
(E) THE POLICY DEVELOPED UNDER THIS SECTION S HALL INCLUDE 18
APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR VIOLATI ONS OF THE POLICY . 19
(F) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL NOTIFY STUDENTS , PARENTS AND 20
GUARDIANS, AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL OF THE POLICY DEVELOPED AND 21
IMPLEMENTED UNDER THIS SECTION . 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2025. 24