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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public school policies regarding student use of |
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personal electronic devices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.028. RESTRICTIONS ON STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL |
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ELECTRONIC DEVICES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Lockable container" means a reusable secure case, |
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pouch, or bag that has a locking mechanism and can be used to |
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securely store a personal electronic device. |
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(2) "Personal electronic device" means a device |
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carried on the person that is capable of displaying, delivering, |
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producing, or otherwise providing access in a digital format to |
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text, audio, images, or videos. The term does not apply to a device |
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issued for educational purposes by a school district. |
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(b) The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a |
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written policy prohibiting students from using a personal |
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electronic device during the school day. |
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(c) A policy adopted under this section must: |
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(1) require each student to place immediately on |
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arriving at a district campus during regular school hours, or |
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before the beginning of the regular school day if the student |
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arrives at a district campus before regular school hours, each of |
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the student's personal electronic devices in a secure location or |
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storage device, such as a lockable container, provided by the |
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district that: |
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(A) prevents the student from viewing or using |
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the device during the regular school day; and |
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(B) is made accessible for the student to |
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retrieve the device at the end of the school day; |
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(2) include enforcement provisions to ensure strict |
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compliance with the policy by students and district employees; |
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(3) provide that a student may contact the student's |
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parent or caregiver during the school day if needed by using a |
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telephone made available to the student in a manner and location |
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designated by the district; and |
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(4) authorize a student to access a personal |
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electronic device during the school day if a medical professional |
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provides written documentation indicating that the student's |
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access to the device is necessary to manage or treat a medical |
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condition diagnosed by the professional. |
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(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules to ensure the collection by the agency and |
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uniform reporting by school districts to the agency of data |
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regarding the effectiveness of policies adopted under this section. |
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(e) The agency annually until 2030 shall post a report on |
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the agency's Internet website regarding the data collected under |
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Subsection (d). The report must contain data that measures: |
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(1) the effects of policies adopted under this section |
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on student behavior, mental health, and disciplinary incidents; and |
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(2) opinions of students and district employees |
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regarding the policies. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |