Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
01/29/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB57 | |
| HB68 | |
| HB49 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 68 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 57-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
3:15:46 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 57 "An Act relating to wireless
telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for
an effective date."
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that the committee would begin with
invited testimony on HB 57.
3:16:27 PM
KELLY LESSENS, Individual Member, Anchorage School Board, as an
invited testifier, supported HB 57 with some recommendations for
change. Ms. Lessens stated HB 57 would direct school districts
to develop and adopt a policy that would prohibit the use of
non-school issued electronic devices during the school day,
including during passing and lunch periods. She stated her
concern that cellphones are distracting, and that students are
becoming increasingly dependent on them. She stated that there
are 18 states that have laws restricting or prohibiting the use
of cell phones during school hours. She noted that the
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) passed a
resolution in the fall [2024] recommending the Anchorage School
District (ASD) revise its cell phone policy. The department
also drafted a model cell phone policy. Ms. Lessens offered one
recommendation for a committee substitute (CS) regarding
regulated accessibility to electronic communication devices
(ECDs) dependent on a student's level in school. She posted
that devices become more essential as students progress through
school. She proposed language specifying that elementary and
middle school students would not be permitted to access ECDs
during the day, only before or after the school day.
Additionally, she stated that high school students, particularly
those with academic or curricular needs, would not be permitted
to access ECDs during the day, unless directed to do so by their
teachers in order to accomplish a specific academic purpose that
could otherwise not be accomplished by devices provided by the
district. She offered an anecdote, recounting that staff have
difficulty "policing" cell phones, given that students outnumber
staff members in every school.
3:24:12 PM
DEENA BISHOP, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early
Development, as an invited testifier, testified in support of
and answered questions during the hearing on HB 57.
Commissioner Bishop cited findings from the book, titled The
Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, and Johann Hari's work on
focus and mental health. She stated that recently published
research on the "anxious generation" reported an increase in
anxiety, depression, and loneliness among teenagers. These
increases are linked with the advent of smart phones and social
media. Unlike prior generations, Commissioner Bishop noted,
modern teenagers are navigating a digital world facilitated by
endless notifications, constant comparison, and fear of missing
out (FOMO). Social media algorithms' sole focus is content that
drives engagement, and research shows that negative content
increases engagement. Commissioner Bishop stated that research
shows visual platforms like Snapchat and Instagram increase
issues with body image, whereas anonymous platforms like Yik Yak
increase incidents of harassment online. Commissioner Bishop
argued that removing cell phones during school hours gives
students a reprieve from the "constant connectivity" and allows
them to focus on learning and personal growth. She cited Johann
Hari's book, Stolen Focus, stating that the addictive design of
apps and platforms, combined with interruptions, makes it nearly
impossible to concentrate on a deeper level. She asserted that
removing cellphones from classrooms would allow for students to
maintain attention. Adolescents spend an average of seven hours
daily on screens, much of which is on social media. Both
Jonathan Haidt and Johann Hari emphasized the importance of
face-to-face interactions for emotional growth and bonding in
their respective bodies of work.
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated when cellphones are removed from
schools, students are encouraged to engage directly with their
peer and teachers, allowing them to practice engaging in real-
world dynamics. She stated that Haidt, in The Anxious
Generation, found links between cell phone usage and sleep
deprivation. Commissioner Bishop maintained that unrestricted
phone use during school hours increases the risk of
cyberbullying, a significant contributor to anxiety and
depression in teens. In 2021, the Pew Research Center reported
that 59 percent of U.S. teens experienced cyberbullying, the
most common activities being offensive name-calling, spreading
false rumors, and receiving explicit images without consent.
She noted that online harassment can escalate quickly and reach
a wider audience over time. In 2018, a study published in
Science Magazine found that false or negative news spread at a
rate of six times faster on Twitter, than positive or neutral
news. The Pew Research Center also found that negative content
on platforms like Facebook receive higher engagement, via likes
and shares. In 2019, the Journal of School Violence reported
that 35 percent of bystanders who witness cyberbullying engage
in it by forwarding the content. She asserted that social media
platforms are designed to exploit human psychology, particularly
the negativity bias. She concluded that a technology as
pervasive as cell phones requires systemic solutions. She
asserted that a phone-free environment in school empowers
students to focus on their education, connect with peers, and
develop resiliency. Finally, she stated that HB 57 is aligned
with the model policy recommendations as put out by DEED.
3:34:33 PM
KIM WHITMAN, Co-Founder, Phone Free Schools Movement, as an
invited testifier, testified in support of HB 57 with some
recommendations for change. Ms. Whitman stated research found
that 97 percent of students use phones during the school day for
an average of 43 minutes, typically spent on social media
applications ("apps"), gaming apps, or YouTube. She stated that
one-third of teenagers report being exposed to pornography at
school, 35 percent of teenagers admitted to using their cell
phone to cheat, and 65 percent of students report distractions
via electronic devices in the classroom. She stated that 72
percent of U.S. high school students report cell phones as a
major problem in the classroom. In 2017, the Brain Drain study
found that the presence of a phone, even when silenced and
stowed away, reduced cognitive capacity. The study found that
students perform best on tests and when learning new materials
when their cellphones are stored in separate rooms. The
National Education Association (NEA) conducted a poll with
results finding that 83 percent of members support prohibiting
cell phone usage during the entire school day, from the first
bell to the last bell. She noted that, in 2023, the U.S.
surgeon general advised that learning time and social time in
schools be phone-free.
MS. WHITMAN offered modifications for HB 57. She recommended
the removal of exceptions for emergency purposes, noting that
first responders and experts suggest that students should be
focused on listening to instructions in the event of an
emergency, not communicating with parents. She remarked that,
if students were instructed to hide in the event of an
emergency, the notification of a phone could alert an intruder
to the student's location. She noted the increased parent
presence on campus in the event of an emergency could block
evacuation efforts. Additionally, she said high call volumes
could overwhelm communication systems, and potentially block
phone lines. Ms. Whitman also recommended the addition of an
exception for documented medical or Individualized Educational
Program (IEP) needs, such as a child with diabetes who uses
their phone to track their insulin levels. In addition, she
recommended that HB 57 mandate the phone be stored separate from
the person, due to the phone's addictive nature. Lastly, Ms.
Whitman recommended adding provisions to prohibit students from
accessing social media during the day, as well as restricting
schools from communicating with children on social media. She
added that parents should be given a choice in their children's
presence on social media, and anecdotally, she shared that
parents have voiced frustrations at schools' requirements for
students to communicate with their peers/teachers/administration
via social media. She reiterated her support of HB 57.
3:40:13 PM
DAVE BOOTH, Principal, Palmer High School, as an invited
testifier, testified in support of and answered questions during
the hearing on HB 57. Mr. Booth stated Palmer High School (PHS)
banned cellphones from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. approximately three
years ago. In the area of discipline, Mr. Booth stated there
was a 43-percent decline in alcohol use by students, a 67-
percent decline in drug use by students, and an 87.5-percent
decline in vape/tobacco use. He stated that PHS had 36
cyberbullying infractions in the first semester of the previous
year [2023-2024], and that the school has had two incidents thus
far during the 2024-2025 school year. In the area of academics,
Mr. Booth stated there was a 28 percent-reduction in failing
grades between the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year
and the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year. He
reported that there was a 14 percent improvement in students
passing Algebra I and declared similar statistics for English I.
In response to earlier testimony, Mr. Booth offered his belief
that there is no problem with "policing," as student will rise
to meet high expectations. Mr. Booth asserted that students at
PHS are happier, and more sociable.
MR. BOOTH stated that research shows that after a child looks at
a cellphone in any capacity, the distraction lasts for
approximately 20 minutes. He noted that PHS has six transition
periods, amounting to 120 minutes of distraction (assuming the
cellphones are accessed during transition periods) throughout a
5.5-hour school day. Mr. Booth stated that the school is safer
without cellphones, due to the school's ability to monitor the
content that students access throughout the day through school-
owned devices. He stated that they [PHS staff] have been able
to intervene when students have thoughts of self-harm or
violence. He concluded that the cell phone ban has been a
monumental transformation for PHS.
3:46:31 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS invited questions from committee members.
3:46:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked whether there was a concern among
local authorities if the state were to pass legislation
regarding cell phone use. Additionally, she asked why ASD has
not created its own policies regarding cell phone usage.
3:47:27 PM
MS. LESSENS responded that the existing policies regarding cell
phone usage in ASD is out of date due to the diversity of the
district. She added that she believed local control is
important and noted that being her reason for supporting a CS to
allow for a little more nuanced HB 57.
3:51:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BURKE asked how many school districts currently
have a cell phone policy.
3:52:32 PM
COMISSIONER BISHOP responded that all districts have a cell
phone policy. She said she would get back to Representative
Burke regarding how many districts a have cell phone restriction
policy. In response to an earlier question from Representative
Coulombe regarding local control, Commissioner Bishop posited
that action needs to be taken at the state level, and that it
will take a collective effort from students, parents,
legislators, and educators to address the issues arising from
cellphone use in schools.
3:54:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BURKE noted that there is language in the bill
that requires districts adopt a policy. She asked whether the
required policy must be the model policy recommended by DEED.
3:55:08 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that he did not intend to prescribe a
specific policy. He stated it is the intent of HB 57 to ban
cell phones during the school day.
3:55:30 PM
LON GARRISON, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), as an invited testifier, answered questions
during the hearing on HB 57. He noted that AASB has had a model
cell phone policy for approximately 12 years. He remarked that
when cell phones first came out, it was thought that they could
be beneficial to the learning environment to some degree. He
stated that there is already a comprehensive model policy that
is not exclusive to cellphones. He offered his belief that
there is an opportunity to modify existing policies, as opposed
to starting over.
3:57:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated her support of the intent of the
legislation. She voiced concerns about semi-urban and rural
schools that use technology to conduct remote learning. She
remarked that there are times when cell phones are used in place
of malfunctioning devices. Representative Carrick stated that
while she supported the ban of social media and phones in
school, she is concerned about what might happen when school-
owned technology malfunctions under HB 57. Representative
Carrick asked whether DEED would fill in those resource gaps.
3:59:21 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP offered her belief that needing a cell phone
to fulfill academic obligations does not outweigh the damage
done by social media and cell phones. Commissioner Bishop
stated that it is important that schools offer technology and
other supports for learning in conjunction with a cell phone
ban. She offered her belief that [teachers] will still be able
to teach without cell phones in the classroom.
4:00:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that HB 57 is not specific to
social media use and acknowledged there is no way to write
legislation to ban social media use on phones in school and
allow academic use. She voiced her concern about the under-
resourcing in schools in Alaska. Many students in districts use
phones to connect to teachers, other students, and classrooms.
She noted there are cases where students have no other way to
connect to their educational institutions except for on their
cell phones.
4:01:47 PM
MS. WHITMAN agreed with Co-Chair Fields in stating that, if
students have access to their phones, they will use them for
social purposes, not solely for academic purposes. She asserted
that the issues regarding connectivity or lack of infrastructure
in classrooms would need to be addressed separate from cell
phone restriction policies.
4:02:33 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP, in response to questions regarding current
policy and enforcement from Representative Nelson, explained
that there is a cell phone ban under the model policy. She
echoed Principal Boothe in stating that when a school has high
expectations, children will rise to meet those expectations.
4:04:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON remarked that he doesn't see how HB 57
might be effective if current policies were not upheld. He
noted the bill would allow exceptions for "emergency purposes"
but does not define the term. He asked for the definition of
"emergency purposes".
4:05:33 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS responded that he is inclined to look to state
and local boards to define "emergency purposes". Additionally,
in response to Representative Nelson's earlier comment, he
clarified that while most school districts have a cell phone
policy, many do not have a cell phone restriction.
4:06:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON stated that in current policy, students
are not supposed to have cell phones turned on or in the
classroom, but many students still do so.
4:06:16 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Commissioner Bishop to speak to how a day-
long ban would be more effective.
4:06:26 PM
COMMISSIONER BISHOP stated that there is a difference between a
day-long ban and the existing policies. She noted that [DEED]
did not know how damaging cell phones were five years ago.
4:07:03 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 4:07 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
4:10:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Ms. Whitman to describe her
organization. He asked Co-Chair Fields to distribute the draft
and model policies from ASD, DEED, and AASB.
4:11:49 PM
MS. WHITMAN stated that the Phones Free School Movement is a
nonprofit started by three moms. She stated she saw how cell
phone use at schools was directly impacting her children and
children around the world. After a year of working with school
administrators across the United States, Ms. Whitman discovered
three things that were paramount to a successful phone-free day:
communication, clear policy, and consistent enforcement. She,
along with the two other co-founders, created the Phone-Free
Schools Administrator Toolkit, a roadmap on how to successfully
implement bell-to-bell phone-free policy. She noted that she
would circulate the "toolkit" with her written testimony.
4:13:15 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS, in response to Representative Saddler's
request, responded that the committee would circulate Ms.
Whitman's website.
4:13:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked whether there was a financial cost
for the cell phone ban at Palmer High School.
4:13:57 PM
MR. BOOTH responded yes and no. He explained that the
administrators bought phone pouches for Palmer High School but
did not receive enough support from the district office for the
enforcement of pouch use. In the end, there was no cost, as PHS
did not end up using pouches, and instead the policy was written
such that phones must be turned off and be "off the student."
This means that the phone can be in the backpack or in the
student's locker, for example. He stated that when a student is
seen with a phone during the school day, it is turned in to the
[principal's] office. He remarked that, currently, PHS averages
fewer than two cell phones taken from students daily.
4:15:16 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Mr. Booth to send additional follow-up
testimony in writing to the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER requested that invited testifiers be made
available for further hearings of HB 57.
[HB 57 was held over.]