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Committee hears bill to limit student possession of personal communication devices; amendment deadline set
Summary
Rep. Zach Fields presented House Bill 57 proposing a statewide model and district adoption of policies restricting student possession and use of personal communication devices during school hours. Committee members requested review reporting and discussed implementation timing; the committee set an amendment deadline and held the bill over.
The Alaska House Education Committee on March 3 took up House Bill 57, sponsored by Rep. Zach Fields, which would direct the State Board of Education and Early Development to produce a model policy and require each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting students from possessing or using personal communication devices during school hours.
Fields told the committee he does not favor a sunset date for the policy and said consistent rules are important. "I don't see us wanting to go away from a cell phone ban any more than I would see us wanting to lower the age of smoking to, you know, 5," Fields said, arguing for a durable statewide standard while acknowledging the need to update policies as research and technology evolve.
Committee members raised implementation questions, including whether the model policy would allow exceptions for students with disabilities or individualized education programs (IEPs). Fields' staff said the bill's "educational purposes" language, as drafted with legal counsel, is intended to allow devices where required by an IEP. Members also discussed timing for implementation and whether DEED should produce a follow-up review report documenting district policies, successes and challenges.
Representative Story suggested a review or formal report after implementation; Representative Eisheid specifically asked DEED to report on challenges and successes so the Legislature can assess outcomes. Fields said he would support a review and noted many districts already have similar policies in place.
The committee opened public testimony and received none. The committee set an amendment deadline of 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and held House Bill 57 for further consideration. Members discussed possibly aligning an effective date with the start of the school year to give districts time to implement procurement or administrative steps, and Fields said a later summer or fall implementation date could be considered.
Representative Courtney Owen, staff for Rep. Fields, and Kelly Lisonbee, an Anchorage school board member who joined online, were available to answer committee questions during the hearing.
