Bill mandating policy on cell phone use in schools heads to governor’s desk
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Every public school in the state will likely soon be required to implement a cell phone use policy as part of House Bill 250, which now heads to the governor’s desk after passing the statehouse with no votes against it in either chamber.
“This is a critically important amendment for Ohio students and staff,” Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) said.
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If signed into law, it will require every public school to adopt a policy about cell phone use during school hours.
“I think it gives a lot of discretion to local school districts, which is something many of us were asking for,” Ohio House Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said.
The bill also requires the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) to create and adopt a model policy for schools to use if they want to.
“It’s better made at the local school districts,” Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Township) said. “DEW, that’s not their job. Not even close.”
Less than one month before the bill’s passage, Gov. Mike DeWine did advocate for cell phone bans in schools.
In a statement, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he “commends” the action the legislature took on Wednesday.
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DeWine has 10 days, once he receives the bill, to decide whether he will sign it into law or veto it. If he does sign it into law, it will take effect 90 days later.
The cell phone policy is only part of House Bill 250. The legislation which originally about military enlistment seals, and now includes several unrelated provisions, including a $19 million allocation for the state’s adoption grant program — the reason some voted for it.
“Because there are things in there we need to do,” Young said.
Young is sponsoring House Bill 485, another take at policy about electronic devices in schools. He said the senate’s bill, which “appeared out of magic,” is not where this conversation ends.
“The senate’s ‘cell phone bill’ is something that we can look at and use and make it better later on,” Young said.
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His bill requires each public school to adopt an internet safety policy for students who use internet access provided by the school. His bill also requires each public school to include instruction in the “social, emotional, and physical effects of social media to students in grades six through 12.”
“We need to look at it a little bit deeper, every school district’s different, so this will be extremely flexible,” Young said. “But this is an issue that we need to hear from the people. It’s not something you just shove into a bill with no hearings.”
Young said he “absolutely” wants to keep working on his bill, even if HB250 does get signed into law by DeWine.
“Our bill will be much stronger,” Young said.
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Young said the senate “rushed” their policy through, as they had no public testimony. He said they did not consider several factors in their bill.
“What about students after school? They have programs after school, what happens in those situations,” Young said. “I didn’t even think about that, and I had a couple of athletic directors say, ‘Does it go that far? Should we talk about that?’”
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