HB 57-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS  9:01:59 AM [Due to technical difficulties, the call back to order was not captured on the recording but was reconstructed from the secretary's log notes.] CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the final order of business would be CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 57(L&C), "An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 57(L&C).] CO-CHAIR STORY asked Representative Fields if there should be a sunset clause associated with CSHB 57(L&C) and asked if a student on an Individual education Plan (IEP) should be allowed an exception for cell phone use. She asked why CSHB 57(L&C) does not direct school boards to implement the proposed cell phone ban. S 9:02:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, answered committee questions on CSHB 57(L&C). He said that it would not be effective to apply a sunset date and said that he doesn't see the dangerous effects of social media addiction in children changing within the next three to five years. He clarified that Section 1 of the proposed legislation directs school districts to implement the policy of CSHB 57(L&C) and shared his preference for the bill to go into effect in the fall of 2025. 9:06:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE ELAM shared his appreciation for the proposed legislation 9:07:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID echoed Co-Chair Story's idea for CSHB 57(L&C) to include a follow-up report on the effects of the proposed legislation. REPRESENTATITIVE FIELDS shared his agreeance that it could be beneficial for the Department of Education and Early Development 9:08:34 AM REPRESENTATIVE UNDERWOOD shared her understanding that the model policy of the proposed legislation would be the baseline for all other policy adopted under CSHB 57 (L&C). REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said that Representative Underwood's understanding was correct. 9:09:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE shared her opinion that the legislators must tread carefully when creating laws that local school boards might be able to handle on their own. 9:10:50 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked how school districts around Alaska would get the proposed policies off the ground. REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS shared his understanding that school districts would each adopt their own individual policy that concerned the implementation of the proposed legislation. 9:11:58 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT opened public testimony on CSHB 57(L&C). after ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she closed public testimony. 9:12:39 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that HB 57 would be held over.