HF 273 (LSB 1233YH (8) 91)

HOUSE FILE 273

BY  MADISON, GOSA, McBURNEY, BROWN-POWERS, GAINES, and AMOS JR.

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to student access to personal electronic devices in schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0t.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to a policy governing student use of personal electronic devices in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to a policy governing student use of personal electronic devices in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  Limitation on the use of personal electronic devices —— policy.
   1.  On or before December 31, 2025, the board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt a policy that prohibits student use of personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. At a minimum, the policy must meet all of the following requirements:
   a.  Apply to all attendance centers within the school district or accredited nonpublic school; provided, however, that the policy may establish different expectations and disciplinary actions for different grade levels.
   b.  Describe with specificity the expectations related to student use of personal electronic devices during the school day and disciplinary actions the school district or accredited nonpublic school shall take if a student violates the policy.
   c.  Authorize a teacher to allow a student to use a personal electronic device during classroom instructional time for educational purposes.
   d.  Allow a student to use a personal electronic device in the event of an emergency.
   e.  Allow a student to use a personal electronic device to manage the student’s health care.
   f.  Allow a student who has an individualized education program, or a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, to use the student’s personal electronic device during classroom instructional time if the student’s individualized education program, or a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, requires such use.
   2.  The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following:
   a.  Make the policy adopted pursuant to subsection 1 available to the public, including by publishing the policy on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site and on the internet site of each attendance center within the school district or accredited nonpublic school.
   b.  Provide the department of education with a copy of the policy.
   c.  Include the policy in the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s student handbook.
   d.  Provide the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the school district or accredited nonpublic school with notice of the policy by doing any one of the following:
   (1)  Providing the parent or guardian with a copy of the policy via electronic mail.
   (2)  Providing the parent or guardian with a copy of the policy by sending a copy of the policy home with the student.
   (3)  Sending a note home with the student indicating where the parent or guardian may view the policy.
   3.  For purposes of this section, “personal electronic device” means any of the following:
   a.  A cellular phone.
   b.  An electronic device that combines a cellular phone with a hand-held computer and that offers internet access, and text or electronic mail capabilities.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to student access to personal electronic devices in schools.
   On or before December 31, 2025, the bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt a policy that prohibits student use of personal electronic devices during classroom instructional time. The bill defines “personal electronic device” as a cellular phone or any electronic device that combines a cellular phone with a hand-held computer and that offers internet access, and text or electronic mail capabilities. The bill establishes what the policy is to include. The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to make the policy available to the public, provide the department of education with copies of the policy, include the policy in the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s student handbook, and provide the parent or guardian of each student with notice of the policy or a copy of the policy.