2025 -- H 5598

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LC001679

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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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

     Referred To: House Education

     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 Internet 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) The department of elementary and secondary education shall, in consultation with the

attorney general’s office and the department of public health, 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.

     (e) 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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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would require every public school district to have a policy regarding the use of

personal electronic devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities to reduce

distractions and maintain environments focused on learning. The act would also enable school

districts to make exceptions to the policy.

     This act would take effect on August 1, 2026.

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