Pennsylvania Senate Passes Bell-to-Bell School Cellphone Ban 47-3
The Pennsylvania Senate voted 47-3 in Harrisburg on October 21 to pass Senate Bill 1014, which would require schools across the state to bar students from using cellphones for the entire school day, a bell-to-bell ban. The bill now goes to Governor Josh Shapiro to sign or veto.
The bill requires every public school district, charter and cyber charter school, career and technical school and private school to adopt a policy by the start of the 2027-28 school year barring students from using phones for the whole school day, including lunch, recess and the time between classes. Exceptions include a medical condition documented by a provider, for the student or an immediate family member; use called for by a disability plan; translation while learning English; and a limited lesson run by a teacher with a principal's approval. Principals may also approve a one-day exception, with notice to the district's top administrator within five days afterward. Schools must also tell families how to reach their children during the day and show the state Department of Education within five business days that the policy is posted online.
The House passed the bill 141-62 on October 19 after adding provisions from a bill by Representative Mandy Steele, and the Senate accepted those changes on October 21. Prime sponsor Senator Devlin Robinson said the bill establishes a clear statewide standard while allowing school districts to decide what works best for their communities. Co-sponsor Senator Steve Santarsiero said he looks forward to seeing Governor Shapiro sign it into law. The three senators voting no were Dawn Keefer, James Malone and Katie Muth. Malone said on the Senate floor that people in his district have raised concerns about the all-day ban and urged more local flexibility and stronger exceptions for emergencies and special needs. Governor Shapiro said in a social media post the same day that he had called for the ban in his Budget Address and repeatedly urged the legislature to act. The bill is not law yet; under the state constitution, if the governor neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days of its formal presentation, it becomes law without his signature.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，宾夕法尼亚州议会大厦
