Bill Text: VA HB882 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Students; Department of Education's model policy on cell phone use during instructional time.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-05 - Continued to 2025 in Education by voice vote [HB882 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB882-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-23.4 as follows:
§22.1-23.4. Model policy on student cell phone use during instructional time; local adoption.
A. The Department shall develop, adopt, and distribute to each school board a model policy whereby public elementary and secondary school students are prohibited from possessing or using personal cell phones or other personal handheld communication devices during instructional time at school. In developing and adopting such model policy, the Department shall seek to balance the interests of students' academic achievement, cognitive development, safety, and general well-being and may include appropriate exceptions in extraordinary circumstances such as emergency situations or situations involving the need to contact the student's parents.
B. Each school board shall develop and adopt a policy that is consistent with the model policy adopted by the Department pursuant to subsection A.
