| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE BILL 41 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By Howell |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | SENATE BILL 18 |
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| 6 | 6 | | By Gardenhire |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | SB0018 |
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| 10 | 10 | | 000523 |
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| 11 | 11 | | - 1 - |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, |
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| 14 | 14 | | relative to communication devices at schools. |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 2, Part 1, is amended by |
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| 18 | 18 | | adding the following as a new section: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (a) As used in this section, "wireless communication device" means a portable |
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| 20 | 20 | | wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data |
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| 21 | 21 | | communication between two (2) or more parties, including, but not limited to: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) Cellular telephones; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) Tablet computers; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) Laptop computers; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (4) Gaming devices. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) Each local board of education and public charter school governing body shall |
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| 27 | 27 | | adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: |
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| 28 | 28 | | (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (b)(2)-(4), requires a student: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (A) In any of the grades kindergarten through eight (K-8) who |
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| 30 | 30 | | possesses a wireless communication device to keep the wireless |
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| 31 | 31 | | communication device turned off and stowed away during a classroom |
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| 32 | 32 | | instructional day; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | (B) In any of the grades nine through twelve (9-12) who |
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| 34 | 34 | | possesses a wireless communication device to keep the wireless |
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| 35 | 35 | | |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | - 2 - 000523 |
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| 38 | 38 | | |
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| 39 | 39 | | communication device turned off and stowed away during instructional |
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| 40 | 40 | | time; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (2) Authorizes a teacher to permit a student to use a wireless |
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| 42 | 42 | | communication device for educational purposes during instructional time; |
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| 43 | 43 | | (3) Permits a student to use a wireless communication device to monitor |
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| 44 | 44 | | the student's health concern as prescribed by the student's healthcare provider; |
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| 45 | 45 | | (4) Permits a student to use a wireless communication device during a |
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| 46 | 46 | | classroom instructional day or instructional time if the student's use of the |
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| 47 | 47 | | wireless communication device is included in the student's: |
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| 48 | 48 | | (A) Individualized education program under the Individuals with |
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| 49 | 49 | | Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.); or |
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| 50 | 50 | | (B) Active 504 plan developed under Section 504 of the |
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| 51 | 51 | | Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794); and |
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| 52 | 52 | | (5) Establishes a process by which parents of students will be contacted |
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| 53 | 53 | | in the event of an emergency or possible emergency at the school in which the |
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| 54 | 54 | | parent's student is enrolled. |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it, |
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| 56 | 56 | | and applies to the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter. |
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