On Wednesday, the Alabama House Education Committee advanced legislation to ban student use of cell phones and other electronic communication devices in K-12 classrooms.
House Bill 166 (HB166), sponsored by State Rep. Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena), addresses students' use of cell phones and other wireless devices during the day's instructional period.
Gov. Kay Ivey backed the legislation in her State of the State address earlier this month.
Under existing law, a local board of education may permit a pupil to carry or use a cell phone or other electronic communication device while on school property. HB166 would repeal that law and place new restrictions and requirements on students using "wireless communications devices."
"Really, what we're looking to do with it is free our classrooms of unnecessary electronic communication devices by prohibiting a student from using, operating or possessing a wireless communication device during the instructional day," Hulsey told the committee on Wednesday.
Under the bill's provisions, a wireless communication device is defined as "a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptop computer, pager, gaming device, or any other portable electronic device identified in a wireless communication device policy that has the capability of exchanging voice, messaging, or other data communication with another electronic device."
Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell also spoke at that committee hearing, advocating for the bill and opining on the deleterious effects of excessive cellphone and social media use.
According to Boswell, adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face a doubled risk of anxiety and depression, which falls well below the average use rate of 4.8 hours.
"We saw depression increase from 2010 to 2020, 145% in girls, and 161% in boys," Boswell said.
She continued, "We also know that kids are showing up for emergency room visits for self-harm. So this is not just, 'I know more about my mental health.' The kids are showing up in emergency rooms for self-harm. Girls, we saw 188% in that number, and boys, we saw a 48% increase. So, what does social media use do that is negative to kids? You've heard a little bit of that already. The four fundamental harms are social deprivation, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation and addiction. So this is really not very good for our youth, to say the least."
While lawmakers questioned Hulsey on the specifics of the bill's implementation, the committee seemed broadly in favor of it. The bill passed unanimously, and it will now go to the House floor for a full vote.
The bill also requires local boards of education to adopt policies governing cell phone use, which must include consequences for violations.
The policy will also require education boards to adopt policies limiting internet access by students on school-provided devices.
This includes:
Limit internet access by students to only age-appropriate subject matters and materials deemed age-appropriate.
Protect the safety and security of students when using email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communication.
Prohibit access by students to unlawfully obtained data or information, including hacking and other unlawful online activity.
Prevent access to websites, web applications, or software that exposes students to the disclosure, use, or dissemination of their personal information.
Prohibit and prevent students from accessing social media platforms, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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