HARRISBURG – PA House lawmakers approved legislation to restrict cell phone use in PA schools. Allegheny County Rep. Mandy Steele is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1814. Students would be required to secure their phones in a way that prevents access until the end of the day, with exceptions for certain emergency and medical needs approved by school administrators. Steele added that research shows that unfettered access to devices is harming our children, and many educators tell her the bill is desperately needed. Nearly 40 states currently restrict cell phone use in schools and twenty-nine states enforce a full “bell-to-bell” ban. The measure, which received bipartisan support, now goes to the PA Senate for consideration.
