HB 6923 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SMART DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

6923591 January Session, 2025 LCOHouse Bill No.

46586923 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, April 8, 2025 The Committee on EDUCATIONEducation Introducedreported by:through REP.

(ED)LEEPER ANof ACTthe CONCERNING132nd THEDist., USEChairperson OFof SMARTthe DEVICESCommittee INon SCHOOLS.the part of the House, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SMART DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

(c)HB6923 For/ theFile school year commencing July 1, 2025, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall adopt a LCO 4658 1 of 2 Raised Bill No.

6923591 policy,1 inHB6923 additionFile toNo. any restrictions pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, limiting the use of smart devices in the schools governed by such board of education using the policy guidance developed by the Department of Education.

591 (c) For the school year commencing July 1, 2025, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall adopt a policy, in addition to any restrictions pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, limiting the use of smart devices in the schools governed by such board of education using the policy guidance developed by the Department of Education.

Section 1 July 1, 2025 10-233j ED Joint Favorable LCOHB6923 4658/ 2File ofNo. 2

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591 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill has no fiscal impact to local or regional school districts.

It requires districts to adopt a technology policy using existing guidance from the State Department of Education.

It is anticipated they can meet this requirement with existing resources.

HB6923 / File No.

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591 OLR Bill Analysis HB 6923 AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF SMART DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

SUMMARY This bill requires local and regional boards of education (“school boards”) to adopt a policy each school year, starting with the 2025-26 schoolyear,limitingsmartdeviceuseintheschoolstheyoversee.School boards must use policy guidance published by the State Department of Education (SDE) to develop their policy.

This policy must be in addition to any restrictions a school board has adopted pursuant to the existing law authorizing them to restrict student cell phone possession or use in their schools.

Under that law, school boards must consider parents’ and students’ special needs when deciding whether to impose cell phone restrictions.

Under the bill, a smart device is a cellular mobile telephone or other wearable or portable technology that can connect to the internet;

collect, process, and transmit data;

and communicate with other devices and networks.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2025 BACKGROUND Policy Guidance In August 2024, the State Board of Education (the agency head of SDE) released a position statement and policy guidance entitled “Personal Technology Use in Connecticut Schools:

Impact of Social Media and the Use of Cell Phones on Student Learning and Mental Health.” In the guidance, the board strongly recommends that school board policies restrict cell phone use during the day to ensure student HB6923 / File No.

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591 engagement in learning;

support emotional well-being;

and strengthen students’ interpersonal skills, peer interaction, and social communication.

Among other things, the guidance recommends that cell phone use be (1) fully restricted during the school day for elementary and middle school students and (2) limited during the day for high school students.

The guidance also outlines the recommended roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in developing and implementing a policy, including the school board, school administrators, teachers, students, and families.

COMMITTEE ACTION Education Committee Joint Favorable Yea 33 Nay 11 (03/21/2025) HB6923 / File No.

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