Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Bill would require public schools to adopt written cell-phone policies; committee debates enforcement and scope
Summary
Tricia Malillo presented Senate Bill 206 for Senator Ricciardi, saying the bill would require public schools to adopt written policies limiting student cell-phone use during the school day while allowing exceptions for medical and disability needs.
Tricia Malillo, Senate majority caucus director, presented Senate Bill 206 on behalf of Senator Ricciardi, saying the measure "is a proactive step towards improving educational outcomes and student well-being by requiring public schools to adopt clear policies limiting cell phone use during the school day." The bill, as amended, substitutes a definition of permitted use for an outright prohibition and adds an enforcement sentence and edits to referenced parties in the draft, the presenter said.
Why it matters: Testimony cited research tying excessive smartphone use in schools to distraction, lower academic performance, social anxiety and cyberbullying. The measure would require…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
