Bill to ban phones during classes clears NC Senate
RALEIGH — The state Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday directing schools to ban the use of cellphones, laptops and other wireless devices during classes, with a series of exceptions including educational use.
Senators voted 41-1 to approve Senate Bill 55 and send it to the House, where lawmakers have advanced a bill of their own. The House's bill is less restrictive and only covers cellphones, unlike the Senate's bill, which covers tablet and laptop computers as well.
One of the primary sponsors of the House bill is Rep. Brian Biggs, R-Randolph. Biggs filed House Bill 87 last month.
The Senate's bill would require school boards and charter schools to create their own policies on wireless devices that, at a minimum, prohibit students from using, displaying, or having any 'wireless communication device' turned on during classes.
School boards would be responsible for establishing consequences for violating the policy, which could include confiscation and disciplinary measures as prescribed by each school's code of student conduct. The policies adopted by school boards would be required to allow cellphone use either by permission of a teacher for educational purposes; in case of an emergency; if required for a student's individualized education program or section 504 plan; or to manage a student's health care.
Two lawmakers who joined forces on this bill, GOP Sen. Jim Burgin, one of the bill's three primary sponsors, and Democratic Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, the Senate Democratic whip, previously filed legislation last year to study the impact of phones in schools.
Chaudhuri said after Senate Bill 55 was filed last month that in today's society, the ubiquity of smartphones and other electronic devices has led to 'a collective action problem where we've created a phone-based childhood as opposed to a phone-free childhood.'
At least 19 states have already passed laws banning phones in schools or recommending local school districts enact their own restrictions, according to an analysis by Education Week.
Distributed at Tribune Content Agency.
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