H.B. No. 3489
AN ACT
relating to development of guidelines for the use of digital
devices in public schools and a school district or open-enrollment
charter school policy for the effective integration of those
devices.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.0231 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0231. GUIDELINES FOR USE OF DIGITAL DEVICES. (a)
The agency, in consultation with the Health and Human Services
Commission, shall develop and distribute model health and safety
guidelines that school districts and open-enrollment charter
schools may use to determine best practices for the effective
integration of digital devices in public schools. The guidelines
must:
(1) be based on evidence-based studies and practices;
(2) consider the needs of students with intellectual
or physical disabilities;
(3) consider the potential costs of implementation of
the guidelines and affordable ways to reduce the hazards associated
with the extended use of digital devices; and
(4) address:
(A) digital device use for varying age ranges and
developmental levels;
(B) the amount of time a student spends using
digital devices in the classroom;
(C) appropriate frequency for breaks from the use
of digital devices;
(D) physical positioning of digital devices in
the classroom;
(E) the use of digital devices to complete
homework assignments;
(F) recommended total daily screen time usage for
students;
(G) recommended practices or software to block
access to inappropriate content; and
(H) recommended teacher training regarding
digital device use in the classroom to ensure implementation of the
best practices.
(b) The school board of each school district or the
governing body of each open-enrollment charter school shall adopt a
policy for the effective integration of digital devices in the
district or school. In adopting the policy, the school board or the
governing body may decide whether to adopt the guidelines developed
under Subsection (a) for use in the district or school.
(c) Each school district or open-enrollment charter school
that adopts the guidelines developed under Subsection (a) may
implement the guidelines in a manner that best meets the district's
or charter school's individual needs and the individual needs of
students in the district or school, including students with
intellectual or physical disabilities.
(d) If a school district or open-enrollment charter school
adopts the guidelines developed under Subsection (a), the district
or charter school shall post the guidelines publicly on the
district's or charter school's Internet website.
SECTION 2. The Texas Education Agency shall develop and
distribute the guidelines for the use of digital devices required
under Section 38.0231, Education Code, as added by this Act, for use
beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3489 was passed by the House on May
11, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 2, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3489 was passed by the Senate on May
21, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor