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Committee moves HB 1160 to allow local boards to set student cell-phone policies
Summary
The House Education Committee amended House Bill 1160 to remove a statewide prohibition on student phone use during instruction and instead authorize local school boards to adopt policies governing use during instructional and noninstructional time; the committee forwarded the amended bill.
The House Education Committee amended and forwarded House Bill 1160, replacing a proposed statewide prohibition on student cellular phone use during instructional time with a structure that lets local school boards adopt policies governing phone use.
Representative Jonas described the amendment as striking a direct prohibition (a school shall prohibit a student from using a cellular telephone during instructional time) and instead authorizing a school board to adopt a policy setting time- and location-based restrictions, acceptable uses, and disciplinary consequences. The amendment also preserves medical and educational accommodations and allowances for emergencies.
Representative Novak asked whether existing local policies would remain compliant; Jonas confirmed that districts with current policies would be compliant. Representative Martin asked whether districts could simply choose not to have a policy; Jonas answered that the language as amended left that choice to local boards. After discussion Representative Jonas moved to adopt the amendment; Representative Longyear seconded. The amendment passed on roll call (recorded in the transcript as 15-1). The committee then voted a do-pass recommendation on HB 1160 as amended and assigned a bill carrier to the floor.
The amended bill emphasizes local control by placing the authority to set specifics of phone use with individual school boards and includes an explicit list of items a board’s policy may address, such as time and location restrictions, acceptable instructional uses, and disciplinary actions for noncompliance.
The transcript records the committee approved the amendment and issued a do-pass recommendation on the amended bill.
