GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1046
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/26/99

Short Title:  Cell Phones/Pagers in Schools.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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April 14, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT DIRECTING LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER ADOPTING POLICIES PROHIBITING STUDENTS FROM USING CELLULAR PHONES OR PAGERS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY DURING INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(38)	To prohibit the use of cellular phones or paging devices by students.  Local boards of education shall consider adopting policies to prohibit the use of cellular telephones, other wireless telephones, paging devices, or other wireless communications devices, by students on school property during instructional hours unless otherwise permitted by the principal in accordance with local board policies.   The policies shall provide for the immediate confiscation of devices used on school property in violation of the policies.  Devices that are confiscated may be returned only to the student's parent or legal guardian upon the parent's or legal guardian's oral or written request."
Section 2.  G.S. 115C-391(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	Local boards of education shall ensure they have clear policies governing the conduct of students.  At a minimum, these policies shall state the consequences of violent or assaultive behavior, possessions of weapons, and criminal acts committed on school property or at school-sponsored functions.  If a local board prohibits the use of cellular telephones, other wireless telephones, paging devices, or other wireless communications devices on school property during instructional hours, the policies governing student conduct shall clearly state the consequences for violations of that policy.  The State Board shall develop guidelines to assist local boards in this process."
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1999, and applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.