MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that could potentially ban cell phone usage in Alabama schools.
The Focus Act would prohibit students from using any wireless communication device in K-12 classrooms.
Representative Leigh Hulsey, the bill’s sponsor, says the act is meant to protect the well being of children.
“Turning them loose, sometimes with a device that is extremely useful in a lot of ways, but can also be damaging when they’re still learning how to just process life and develop critical thinking skills. I think that I could not look at the data that I saw and not do something,” Representative Hulsey said. “Even if I failed, I had to try.”
Governor Kay Ivey also expressed support for the bill during her State of the State Address in February.
While the bill would prohibit cell phone usage for students in most cases, it includes some exceptions for children with health conditions like diabetes who use their cell phones to monitor blood sugar.
The bill now advances to the Senate for further debate.
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