Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1296
       
       
        
       By Senator Burgess
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01525A-25                                          20251296__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to use of wireless communications
    3         devices in schools; requiring the Commissioner of
    4         Education to coordinate with school districts selected
    5         by the Department of Education to implement a policy
    6         for a specified school year prohibiting the use of
    7         cell phones while on school grounds or engaged in
    8         certain activities off school grounds; requiring the
    9         department to provide a report to the Legislature
   10         before a specified date; providing requirements for
   11         the report; requiring that the report include a model
   12         policy that school districts and charter schools may
   13         adopt; requiring that the report and model policy
   14         address the authorized use of cell phones and
   15         electronic devices during the school day by certain
   16         students; requiring that the report include specified
   17         student code of conduct provisions; providing an
   18         effective date.
   19          
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21  
   22         Section 1. (1) The Commissioner of Education shall
   23  coordinate with six districts selected by the Department of
   24  Education which represent two small, two medium, and two large
   25  counties that currently, or will in the 2025-2026 school year,
   26  implement a policy that prohibits the use of cell phones and
   27  other personal electronic devices by students during the entire
   28  school day, while on school grounds, or while engaged in school
   29  activities off school grounds during the school day. The
   30  department shall provide a report to the President of the Senate
   31  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before December
   32  1, 2026, summarizing the effect of each district policy on
   33  student achievement and behavior. The report must also include a
   34  model policy that school districts and charter schools may
   35  adopt.
   36         (2) The report and model policy must address the authorized
   37  use of cell phones or other electronic devices during the school
   38  day by students:
   39         (a) With disabilities or who are English Language Learners
   40  who may need such electronic devices to access curriculum or
   41  other required activities.
   42         (b) When necessary for health reasons, for emergency
   43  medical issues, or for natural or man-made disasters.
   44         (c) On school buses, before or after school hours.
   45         (d) Engaged in extracurricular activities outside of the
   46  school day.
   47         (3) The report must also include student code of conduct
   48  provisions for violations of the policy restricting the use of
   49  cell phones and other electronic devices, including, but not
   50  limited to, which:
   51         (a) Constitutes illegal behavior and may result in a
   52  referral to law enforcement.
   53         (b) Facilitates bullying, harassing, or threatening other
   54  students.
   55         (c) Facilitates cheating or otherwise violating a school’s
   56  policy for academic integrity.
   57         (d) Captures or displays any picture or video of any
   58  student during a medical issue or engaged in misconduct.
   59         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.