S.B. 444
- *SB444*
SENATE BILL NO. 444–COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
MARCH 24, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Education
SUMMARY—Revises provisions concerning policies governing
the use of certain electronic devices in schools.
(BDR 34-855)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to education; requiring a policy adopted by the
board of trustees of a school district concerning the use
and possession by pupils of certain electronic devices to
include certain provisions governing the discipline of
pupils and exceptions to limitations prescribed as part of
such a policy; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law: (1) requires the board of trustees of each school district to adopt a 1
policy concerning the use and possession by pupils of certain electronic devices 2
while on school property or at a school activity; and (2) sets forth certain 3
requirements concerning the policy. (NRS 392.4637) This bill: (1) requires the 4
policy to address the use and possession by pupils of an electronic communication 5
device; and (2) defines “electronic communication device” to include, without 6
limitation, a cellular phone, computer, laptop computer and tablet device. This bill 7
additionally requires the policy to include: (1) measures for disciplining a pupil 8
using a progressive scale based on the number and seriousness of violations; (2) 9
limitations on the use of an electronic communication device during instruction; 10
and (3) certain exceptions for any limitations imposed as part of such a policy. 11
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 392.4637 is hereby amended to read as 1
follows: 2
392.4637 1. The board of trustees of each school district shall 3
adopt a policy concerning the use and possession by pupils of [a 4
pager, cellular telephone or any other similar] an electronic 5
communication device [used for communication] while on the 6
premises of a public school or while at an activity sponsored by a 7
public school. 8
2. The policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 must: 9
(a) Prescribe appropriate measures for disciplining a pupil who 10
violates the policy [.] that include, without limitation, a system to 11
rate violations of a policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 on a 12
progressive scale based on the number and seriousness of the 13
violations. 14
(b) Prescribe limitations on the use of an electronic 15
communication device during instruction. 16
(c) Include exceptions to any limitations on the use of an 17
electronic communication device prescribed as part of a policy 18
adopted pursuant to subsection 1, including, without limitation, 19
exceptions: 20
(1) On the use of an electronic communication device 21
during an emergency or crisis or to manage the health of a pupil; 22
(2) If a teacher allows for the use of an electronic 23
communication device for instructional purposes; and 24
(3) If the use of an electronic communication device is 25
included as part of an individualized education program or a plan 26
developed in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 27
of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794. 28
(d) Be included within each copy of the rules of behavior 29
for pupils that the school district provides to pupils pursuant to 30
NRS 392.463. 31
3. As used in this section: 32
(a) “Electronic communication device” means any electronic 33
device that is capable of transmitting any audio, written or 34
pictorial information or messages to another electronic device. 35
The term includes, without limitation, a cellular phone, computer, 36
laptop computer and tablet device. The term does not include an 37
electronic device issued to a pupil by the school district or the 38
school in which the pupil is enrolled. 39
(b) “Individualized education program” has the meaning 40
ascribed to it in 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(1)(A). 41
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective: 42
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1. Upon passage and approval for the purpose of performing 1
any administrative tasks necessary to adopt the policy required by 2
NRS 392.4637, as amended by section 1 of this act, not later than 3
June 30, 2026; and 4
2. On July 1, 2026, for all other purposes. 5
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