SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3695

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 5, 2024

     The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3695 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media and requires a board of education to adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media.

     Under the amended bill, the commissioner is to develop a policy applicable to students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12 concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events when the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education.

     The policy is to, at a minimum: (1) provide age appropriate and grade-level differentiated policies concerning limiting and prohibiting student use of cell phones and social media platforms; (2) prohibit non-academic use of a cell phone or social media during classroom instruction; (3) be consistent with State and federal law including accommodations provided in a student’s Individualized Education Program or educational plan; (4) permit student use of cell phones in the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger; (5) permit student use of cell phones upon submission by a parent or guardian of documentation from a health care professional indicating that the use of a cell phone is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; (6) address smartphones, cell phones with only text or voice, and other relevant devices, including smart watches; (7) list options that may be utilized by a school district for cell phone storage, including locked pouches and cell phone lockers; (8) provide guidance for a school district to establish network-based restrictions to prevent the use of, or access to, social media platforms; and (9) detail protocols for communicating the district’s policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms to students, their families, and teaching staff members.

     In developing the policy, the commissioner is to consult with interested stakeholders in the education community to ensure that the policies are responsive to the needs of students, parents, and teaching staff members.

     The amended bill also requires each board of education to adopt a policy concerning student use of cell phones and social media platforms during regular school hours, on a school bus, or during school-sanctioned events when the student is under the direct supervision of a teaching staff member or employee of the board of education.  The policy is to be consistent with the policy developed by the commissioner.

     Additionally, the amended bill permits the commissioner to grant an exemption to a board of education for the requirement to adopt the policy upon submission of an application by the board.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to specify that the Commissioner of Education is to consult with interested stakeholders in the education community, including the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association, and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, when developing the cell phone and social media policy.