Senate Bill 2151

AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CERTAIN STATE HIGH SCHOOLS TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT POLICIES TO BAN THE POSSESSION OR RESTRICT THE USE OF CELL PHONES BY STUDENTS DURING CLASS OR WHILE UNDER THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF AN EMPLOYEE OR EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL; TO PROVIDE FOR POTENTIAL EXCEPTIONS WHICH ALLOW STUDENTS TO POSSESS OR USE CELL PHONES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) A public school district, public charter school, agricultural high school, the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the Mississippi School of the Arts and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science shall develop and adopt specific policies to ban the possession or restrict the use of cell phones by students during class or while under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of the school.

(2) In developing and adopting a policy under this section, a school may include exceptions to allow a student to possess or use a cell phone under any of the following circumstances:

(a) In the case of an emergency, or in response to a perceived threat of danger;

(b) When a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, physician or surgeon determines that the possession or use of a cell phone is medically necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.