Michigan Senate passes cell phone rule that would limit use in schools
Michigan lawmakers debating on cell phones in school
Michigan lawmakers are working on bills this week to restrict the use of student cell phones in schools. As FOX 2's Tim Skubick reports, the Senate plan gives more authority to local school boards, while the House plan imposes some significant state standards with some flexibility built in.
LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - The Michigan Senate approved a bill limiting cell phone use in school, easily clearing the chamber as momentum builds around reducing distractions for students.
It's not the only legislation looking to regulate mobile devices that's working its way through Lansing - but key differences between the two leave uncertainty over what the final version will look like.
What we know:
The Michigan Senate passed SB 234 on Tuesday by a 28-9 vote.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), would require school districts to create and implement a policy that limits student cell phone use during school hours.
That includes time spent in class, between class, at lunch, and recess.
The bill does outline some exceptions for using a wireless device, including in emergency situations, for medical use, and accommodating those who attend under a individual education plan.
The policy would be adopted for elementary, middle, and high schools, and span school grounds.
Dig deeper:
Research on cell phone use has found young people uniquely susceptible to the distractions that wireless devices enable.
The DOPamine response individuals receive while on their phones is greater in kids and can rewire parts of their brain that are still developing.
The distractions they cause also lead to more disruptions both inside and outside the classroom, with teachers finding it harder to instruct students during lesson plans.
Michigan phone ban in schools: Lawmakers weigh bill that would limit usage in class
Under the proposal, phones would be banned for everyone fifth grade and under. It would be different for older students, however.
The other side:
A separate bill introduced by the Republican-led Michigan House also restricts the use of cell phones in schools, but without the exceptions that Polehanki's bill provides.
HB 4141 was introduced by Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) in February, and lawmakers on the Education and Workforce Committee heard testimony from experts and stakeholders in April.
What we don't know:
Because both chambers have legislation on the issue, an eventual law is likely coming in the future. The Michigan governor has also said she supports limiting the use of phones in schools.
But what the final product looks like - specifically whether there are exceptions for using cell phones in schools - remains to be seen.
The Source: Information from the Michigan Senate, the Michigan House, and previous reporting was used in this story.