(South Dakota Broadcasters Association) A bill to restrict student cell phone use during school hours moved to the Senate floor today after the Education Committee couldn’t agree on a recommendation.
Senate Bill 198 would ban phones during the school day statewide.
Senator Chris Karr says students need protection from phones’ harmful effects on mental health and learning.
He says 26 states have similar bell-to-bell policies with proven results.
Robert Peterson with the Foundation for Government Accountability says research shows strong benefits.
But Secretary of Education Joe Graves says schools are already solving the problem locally.
While he agrees phones hurt learning, he doesn’t think a state mandate is needed.
Dianna Miller, lobbyist for South Dakota’s large school districts, says the bill is unnecessary.
The committee voted 5-2 to send the amended bill to the Senate floor with no recommendation.
