HB 57-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS  9:37:31 AM CO-CHAIR STORY 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." 9:38:20 AM CO-CHAIR STORY moved to adopt Amendment 1 to CSHB 57(L&C), labeled 34-LS0064\I.2, Bergerud, 3/10/25, which read as follows: Page 2, following line 14: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: REPORTS. (a) Not later than June 30, 2026, a school district shall report to Department of Education and Early Development describing the policy the school district adopted under AS 14.33.300(b) and the effect of the policy on student academic achievement and behavior in the school district. (b) Not later than July 31, 2026, the Department of Education and Early Development shall prepare a report that describes, for each school district, the implementation process of policies adopted under AS 14.33.300(b) and the outcomes of prohibiting the use of nonschool-issued wireless telecommunications devices, including the effect on student academic achievement and behavior. The Department of Education and Early Development shall make the report available to the public, submit the report to the senate secretary and the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is available." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT objected for the purpose of discussion. 9:38:36 AM CO-CHAIR STORY explained that Amendment 1 to CSHB 57 (L&C) would create a section that mandates that school districts report to the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) about the effects of the proposed policies on student achievement and behavior. 9:39:43 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT asked how a school district might properly deliver the report proposed by Amendment 1. CO-CHAIR STORY answered that it would be "up to the school district" to handle how they would complete the report proposed by Amendment 1. 9:42:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked if the report proposed by Amendment 1 could be considered a "satisfaction survey." 9:43:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, answered committee questions on CSHB 57(L&C). He said that the purpose of the amendment would be for districts to report both how they implemented a ban on cell phone use and the impacts of a ban. 9:44:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE shared her concern that the amendment would create unnecessary oversight of local districts from the state government and said that she is unsure if the report proposed by Amendment 1 is even necessary, given the certainty of the possible positive effects. 9:46:29 AM CO-CHAIR STORY commented that she did not make the proposed Amendment extremely prescriptive because she is "sensitive to more reporting from districts". 9:47:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE ELAM asked if the proposed Amendment could be re- drafted to clarify its intention. CO-CHAIR STORY commented that Representative Elam's idea for the proposed report was already covered by current bill language. 9:48:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE EISCHEID asked if his understanding as to how the proposed amendment's policies would be administered was correct. CO-CHAIR STORY confirmed that Representative Eischeid's understanding was correct. 9:51:13 AM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS commented that the goal of the proposed amendment was to both study the impacts of a cell phone ban in schools and make the implementation of such a policy easier, 9:51:40 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT removed her objection. REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE objected. CO-CHAIR STORY commented her desire for the report proposed by Amendment 1 to contain accurate and concise information and reiterated her apprehension to creating any further administrative burden for school districts in Alaska. 9:52:46 AM The committee took an at-ease from 9:52 a.m. to 9:54 a.m. 9:54:01 AM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Dibert, Eischeid, Story, and Himschoot voted in favor of Amendment 1 to CSHB 57(L&C). Representatives Schwanke, Elam, and Underwood voted against it. Therefore, Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 4- 3. 9:55:44 AM The committee took a brief at-ease from 9:55 a.m. to 9:56 a.m. 9:56:09 AM CO-CHAIR STORY moved to report CSHB 57(L&C), as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes and [to allow Legislative Legal Services to make] conforming changes, as needed. There being no objection, CSHB 57(EDC) was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.