HB 1814 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, providing for bell-to-bell mobile device policy.

PRINTER'S NO.    2231

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1814
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY STEELE, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, STAATS AND BRENNAN,
        AUGUST 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, AUGUST 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, providing
 6      for possession and use of cell phones.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11   section to read:
12      Section 1317.4.    Possession and Use of Cell Phones.--(a)
13   Except as provided in this section, a student of a public school
14   entity may not possess or use a cell phone during the school day
15   in a school building of the public school entity.
16      (b)   Upon entering the school building at the beginning of
17   the school day, the student shall:
18      (1)   deposit the cell phone in a lockbox or other secure
19   location for the duration of the school day; or
20      (2)   secure the cell phone in a case or pouch with a locking
 1   mechanism that prohibits the student from accessing the cell
 2   phone during the school day, but which case or pouch is capable
 3   of being carried by the student.
 4      (c)    At the end of the school day, the student may:
 5      (1)    retrieve the cell phone from the lockbox or other secure
 6   location; or
 7      (2)    unlock the case or pouch described in subsection (b)(2).
 8      (d)    This section does not apply to a student if:
 9      (1)    the student:
10      (i)    is a member of a volunteer fire company, ambulance or
11   rescue squad; or
12      (ii)    has a need for the cell phone due to the medical
13   condition of an immediate family member; and
14      (2)    an administrator of the public school entity approves
15   possession and use of the cell phone by the student during the
16   school day in a school building of the public school entity.
17      (e)    A public school entity shall develop or update its
18   written policies to implement this section. The written policies
19   shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Education.
20      (f)    As used in this section, the term "public school entity"
21   means a school district, independent school, area career and
22   technical school, intermediate unit, charter school or regional
23   charter school.
24      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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