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Bill

S 323

Imposes a tax related to executive compensation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 5 co-sponsors

Massachusetts schools must ban personal electronic devices during the day, with approved districts using school-issued devices and submitting policies for state approval.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 323

Summary — S.323 (as filed in the Massachusetts General Court, 2025)

Short title(s) in bill text: “An Act providing for phone free schools”
Filed / Presented: Filed Jan 16, 2025; presented by Senator Brendan P. Crighton.
Primary sponsors in bill text: Brendan P. Crighton; petition lists Mark C. Montigny.
Status / Committees (note inconsistencies below): Referred to Education (per bill text). Other procedural entries in the provided metadata appear inconsistent with state bill content (see “Notes on metadata” below).

Important note on source materials: the metadata you provided includes conflicting items (a federal-sounding bill title, federal sponsors, and committee actions unrelated to the Massachusetts bill text). This summary focuses on the bill text in the Massachusetts Senate Docket No. 1653 / S.323, which would create a statewide “phone free schools” requirement.

Purpose / Intent

To require every Massachusetts public school district to adopt and submit for state approval a comprehensive policy prohibiting student access to personal electronic devices (PEDs) during the school day, while preserving use of school-issued or sanctioned devices for legitimate educational purposes. The bill aims to reduce in-school distractions, protect student safety and privacy, and guide consistent district practices with accommodations for students with disabilities and other needs.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 38 to Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts General Laws with definitions and requirements.
  • Definitions: “personal electronic devices” includes smartphones, cellular phones, tablets, gaming devices, and other equipment capable of collecting, processing, or transferring data.
  • District policy requirement:
    • Each school district must adopt a comprehensive policy prohibiting student access to PEDs during the school day. Prohibitions extend to times outside classrooms (e.g., passing periods, lunch/recess as specified).
    • Policies must align with developmental levels and school structure, and districts must hold a public comment period when developing policies.
    • Policies must permit school-issued/sanctioned devices used for legitimate educational purposes.
    • Policies must include procedures for collecting, isolating, and returning PEDs.
    • Districts must incorporate device expectations into student codes of conduct and provide student education on topics such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, nonconsensual recording, plagiarism, and unapproved use of AI.
    • Districts must submit policies to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for approval.
  • State guidance and timeline:
    • DESE and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must issue guidance within 6 months after the act’s effective date. Guidance must advise districts on development and implementation, with emphasis on engaging learning environments and mitigating cell phone impacts.
    • Guidance must address: health and safety (including methods for parental communication), exceptions and accommodations under IEPs and Section 504, ADA/title II compliance, multilingual learner impacts, and other applicable federal/state laws.
    • Subsection requiring district policies (Section 38(b)) takes effect no later than six months after DESE issues its guidance.
  • DESE responsibilities: review and approve district policies and provide technical assistance.

Who is affected

  • Public school districts and local school leaders (required to adopt, hold public comment, and submit policies).
  • Students (restrictions on PED access during the school day).
  • Families and caregivers (new communication procedures and opportunity for public input).
  • DESE and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (responsible for guidance, review, and approval).
  • Students with disabilities and multilingual learners (explicit protections and accommodations required).

Implementation, timelines, and enforcement

  • DESE/Board guidance required within 6 months of the act’s effective date.
  • District policies must be adopted and will take effect no later than 6 months after DESE issues guidance.
  • The bill requires DESE approval of district policies but does not specify civil or criminal penalties, specific enforcement mechanisms, or state funding to support implementation in the text provided.

Missing / unclear elements

  • No funding provisions for implementation, training, or secure storage/collection systems.
  • No detailed enforcement or penalty structure for noncompliant districts beyond the approval requirement.
  • Operational specifics (e.g., exact procedures for collection, staff responsibility, appeals) are left to districts and DESE guidance.

Notes on metadata inconsistencies

  • The provided metadata includes references to a federal-sounding title (“PLAN for Broadband Act”), federal committees (Commerce, Science, and Transportation), and U.S. Senators as sponsors. The actual bill text supplied is a Massachusetts state bill (S.323 / Senate Docket No. 1653) authored by state legislators and addressing school device policies. This summary reflects the Massachusetts bill text; if you intended the federal S.323 or a differently titled bill, please provide the correct text or clarify which version you want summarized.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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