Committee introduces RS32321 to create voluntary mobile-device policy grant for schools

Representative Chris Mathias presented RS32321 on Feb. 12 as a voluntary program that preserves local control while offering small, one-time grants to school districts that choose to adopt evidence-based "bell-to-bell" mobile-device policies. Mathias said the measure was intended to help districts where implementation costs could be prohibitive and to encourage evidence-based approaches rather than unfunded mandates.

The bill would create a school mobile-device policy fund populated with one-time state funds. The sponsor explained the fund would award grants of $1,500 per district or charter school; the fiscal note estimated a maximum exposure of about $285,000 based on 115 school districts and 77 charter schools multiplied by $1,500. Mathias said that number was conservative because many districts have already adopted comparable policies or used earlier grants available under the governor’s "Phone Free Learning Act," which provided $5,000 grants (he said those were funded with federal COVID dollars and may no longer be available).

Applications for the $1,500 grants would be intentionally simple, Mathias said: contact information, a proposed bell-to-bell policy, equipment or services to be purchased (or staff time), projected cost and other relevant details. The sponsor stressed the statute would not require districts to adopt policies; it would make funds available to districts that chose to implement them and asked that implementation be evidence-based.

The State Board of Education agreed to compile and report data from existing data systems so the legislature can assess whether districts that receive funding and adopt bell-to-bell policies show measurable differences. The board would prepare a report summarizing the data and provide an assessment to JFAC, the House Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee.

Committee members raised questions about what "equipment or services" might include, how the policy would scale in large schools and whether spending state money on policies that local boards might otherwise adopt was appropriate. Representative Clow asked whether districts could still access the $5,000 grants from the governor’s executive order; Mathias said those grants came from federal COVID funds and their availability may be limited or paused. Representative Tanner and others raised implementation concerns for large high schools; Mathias said some districts use cubby systems or back-of-door storage and offered to bring witnesses from larger districts to a hearing.

Representative Sauter moved to introduce RS32321. The motion passed; Representatives Mendyve, Hawkins and Visniewski were recorded as opposed. The RS was introduced and will be assigned a bill number and return for further hearing and floor consideration.