Chapter 109
2025 -- H 5598 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/23/2025

A N   A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Read, Noret, Alzate, J. Brien, McNamara, Boylan, Carson, McEntee, and Donovan

Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
     16-21-43. Policy on use of personal electronic devices in schools.
     (a)(1) Each public school shall have a policy regarding the use of personal electronic
devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities to reduce distractions, maintain
environments focused on learning, and protect the privacy and safety of students and staff. Each
public school shall notify the parents or guardians of all students attending the school of the policy.
The policy shall include, but not be limited to, a prohibition on physical access to a personal
electronic device by students during the school day as defined by the department of education and
the commission of elementary and secondary education pursuant to §§ 16-2-2 and 16-2-9 and any
regulations promulgated thereunder including, but not limited to, 200-RICR-20-05-1.
     (2) The district shall make exceptions for student personal device use that provide access
to assistive technology necessary to comply with individualized student 504 plans, individualized
education plans (IEP), medical needs such as glucose monitoring, and/or a plan to support emergent
multilingual learners (MLL) students with appropriate language access programs and services to
ensure the provision of appropriate, meaningful public education. The allowable exceptions shall
be written into the student's identified plan and approved by the appropriate team or coordinator.
     (3) Students provided an exception to this policy shall not be segregated from students
without such exception. Exceptions shall also be made in the event of an emergency.
     (b) For the purposes of this section, a “personal electronic device” means a smartphone,
mobile phone, tablet, computer, smartwatch, or other electronic device not owned or provided to a
student by a public school that is capable of communication through the Internetinternet or a
wireless network.
     (c) The policy and any standards and rules enforcing the policy shall be prescribed by the
school committee in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees of a charter school
and in consultation with any collective bargaining agents that represent school staff. The policy
shall be enforced consistently by school administration, be systematic in nature, and should
minimize the potential for conflict between students, parents, educators, and staff.
     (d) No school official, employee, or agent of the school shall search the contents of any
personal electronic device covered by this chapter that is retained by the school during school hours
and not in the studentsstudent’s possession in a locked pouch or container.
     (e) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in consultation with the
attorney general’s office and the department of publichealth, provide guidance and
recommendations to assist schools with developing and implementing effective policies regarding
the use of personal electronic devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities
consistent with this section and shall make such guidance and recommendations publicly available
on the department's website. Guidance and recommendations shall be reviewed annually and
regularly updated to reflect applicable research and best practices.
     (f) Each school district and charter school shall file its school personal electronic device
use policy with the department of elementary and secondary education in a manner and form
prescribed by the department.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2026.
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LC001679/SUB A
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