Bill Text: TX HB515 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to public school policies regarding student use of personal electronic devices.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB515 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB515-Introduced.html
| By: Troxclair | H.B. No. 515 | |
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| relating to public school policies regarding student use of | ||
| personal electronic devices. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 38.028 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 38.028. RESTRICTIONS ON STUDENT USE OF PERSONAL | ||
| ELECTRONIC DEVICES. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Lockable container" means a reusable secure case, | ||
| pouch, or bag that has a locking mechanism and can be used to | ||
| securely store a personal electronic device. | ||
| (2) "Personal electronic device" means a device | ||
| carried on the person that is capable of displaying, delivering, | ||
| producing, or otherwise providing access in a digital format to | ||
| text, audio, images, or videos. The term does not apply to a device | ||
| issued for educational purposes by a school district. | ||
| (b) The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a | ||
| written policy prohibiting students from using a personal | ||
| electronic device during the school day. | ||
| (c) A policy adopted under this section must: | ||
| (1) require each student to place immediately on | ||
| arriving at a district campus during regular school hours, or | ||
| before the beginning of the regular school day if the student | ||
| arrives at a district campus before regular school hours, each of | ||
| the student's personal electronic devices in a secure location or | ||
| storage device, such as a lockable container, provided by the | ||
| district that: | ||
| (A) prevents the student from viewing or using | ||
| the device during the regular school day; and | ||
| (B) is made accessible for the student to | ||
| retrieve the device at the end of the school day; | ||
| (2) include enforcement provisions to ensure strict | ||
| compliance with the policy by students and district employees; | ||
| (3) provide that a student may contact the student's | ||
| parent or caregiver during the school day if needed by using a | ||
| telephone made available to the student in a manner and location | ||
| designated by the district; and | ||
| (4) authorize a student to access a personal | ||
| electronic device during the school day if a medical professional | ||
| provides written documentation indicating that the student's | ||
| access to the device is necessary to manage or treat a medical | ||
| condition diagnosed by the professional. | ||
| (d) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this | ||
| section, including rules to ensure the collection by the agency and | ||
| uniform reporting by school districts to the agency of data | ||
| regarding the effectiveness of policies adopted under this section. | ||
| (e) The agency annually until 2030 shall post a report on | ||
| the agency's Internet website regarding the data collected under | ||
| Subsection (d). The report must contain data that measures: | ||
| (1) the effects of policies adopted under this section | ||
| on student behavior, mental health, and disciplinary incidents; and | ||
| (2) opinions of students and district employees | ||
| regarding the policies. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 | ||
| school year. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
