SB 18-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS  3:33:04 PM CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 18 "An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for an effective date." 3:33:23 PM SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, District K, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 18, introduced Mr. Seater his mentee, and briefly shared how he came to sponsor SB 18. He admitted to initial hesitation but was persuaded after hearing positive reports of improved student discipline from a principal who initiated a no cell phone policy. 3:35:22 PM DERSU SEATER, Mentee, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 18 and explained that SB 18 requires the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to create a model policy prohibiting non-school- issued wireless devices in schools. School districts must adopt either this model or a comparable policy, and must have emergency exemptions. He described cell phone misuse as a growing epidemic harming students' mental health and academic outcomes. Referring to studies and personal experiences, he said unrestricted phone use leads to distraction, reduced engagement, and diminished learning, contrasting environments at East High and Winterberry Charter School. 3:39:00 PM MS. SEATER argued that loose cell phone policies normalize disengagement, while structured restrictions promote accountability and improved performance. He addressed school safety concerns, citing expert opinion that phones create risks during emergencies. He concluded by urging the committee to support SB 18, emphasizing its flexibility, community control, and broad teacher support. 3:41:01 PM SENATOR STEVENS said there is strong support in Alaska for local control of school districts. He asked whether SB 18 offers options for districts or if the bill eliminates cell phone use in schools entirely. 3:41:34 PM MR. SEATER replied that SB 18 allows some flexibility for school districts. He stated that districts must prohibit the use or possession of cell phones during class hours, lunch, and passing periods. He clarified that the method of enforcement is left to each district's discretion. 3:42:23 PM CHAIR TOBIN noted that SB 18, page 2, includes exemptions for wireless communication during emergencies but does not mention medical use. She asked for clarification on why the bill does not provide an exemption for individuals using a cellular device for medical purposes. 3:42:42 PM MR. SEATER stated that under the current version of the SB 18, "emergency purposes" includes medical emergencies or the prevention of such emergencies, such as using a glucose monitor. He added that if the committee wants to clarify this further, the sponsors are open to amending the bill to explicitly reference medical emergencies or medical needs. 3:43:32 PM CHAIR TOBIN asked how SB 18 might affect students in specialized programs who need to use personal devices during school hours. She expressed concern that the policy could hinder students in academic programs who rely on unrestricted internet access for learning. 3:44:13 PM MR. SEATER replied that since SB 18 leaves many details to local school districts, students could bring concerns to their local school boards. He stated that districts might choose to create exemptions or adjust policies to accommodate student needs. 3:44:47 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that another bill is moving through the legislature that allows more flexibility for local school districts, while SB 18 is more prescriptive. He explained that SB 18 would strictly prohibit the use of non-school-issued wireless telecommunication devices, whereas the other bill would require school districts or the Department of Education to regulate the use of the device. He said the sponsors would not object if the committee decided to revise SB 18 to allow more local control. CHAIR TOBIN asked whether SB 18 would also prohibit the use of other types of personal wireless telecommunication devices, such as gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch. 3:46:05 PM MR. SEATER replied that, as a student, he has not seen anyone bring a Nintendo Switch or similar gaming device to school. He stated that the current definition of wireless telecommunication devices likely does not include those types of gaming devices. He added that the definition could be amended if the committee wishes to address that. CHAIR TOBIN stated that, according to some students, the issue is not cell phones but unengaging classes and large class sizes that reduce education quality. She said students have expressed a preference for distractions due to these conditions. She noted that students have called for an increase in the Base Student Allocation (BSA) to improve class sizes and instruction quality instead of banning cell phones. She asked for thoughts on that perspective. 3:47:19 PM MR. SEATER said that addressing student disengagement requires a two-sided approach. He expressed support for increasing the Base Student Allocation but noted, from personal experience, that even in small classes, such as his AP Spanish class with 10 to 15 students, about half the students are on their phones throughout the period. He stated that the teacher is exhausted from managing phone use alone. He suggested that this policy would give teachers a clear mandate from the state, reducing the burden on them and avoiding confrontational enforcement. 3:48:05 PM SENATOR KIEHL joined the meeting. 3:48:27 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said he supports increasing the Base Student Allocation and reducing class sizes. However, he stated that cell phones remain a widespread issue, even in smaller classes, as noted by Mr. Seater. He emphasized that removing the burden of enforcement from teachers and establishing a clear state policy would be beneficial, adding that teachers could "blame" the legislature for the rule. He said SB 18 aims to keep phones out of classrooms during instructional time, while allowing flexibility for districts to permit use during lunch, breaks, and educational need. 3:49:25 PM SENATOR STEVENS expressed support for SB 18 and acknowledged the classroom disruption caused by cell phone use. He asked to further explore the medical exemption issue. He gave the example of a glucose monitor, which requires immediate attention, and questioned whether there are other medical devices or conditions, such as heart monitors, that should be considered. He clarified that this would not mean allowing unrestricted phone use but asked if there are additional medical needs SB 18 should address. 3:50:13 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that this was the first Senate hearing on SB 18 and acknowledged that the House conducted several hearings and did good work on the issue. He explained that the House version includes a regulatory approach rather than a strict prohibition and includes model policy language requiring exceptions for medical and translation purposes. He emphasized that translation is particularly important in diverse schools, such as East Anchorage High, where students speak up to 95 different languages. He said the House policy also allows use in emergencies or when a teacher or administrator grants permission for educational purposes. He supported clarifying that medical use, including non-emergency situations like glucose monitoring, should be allowed and stated he supports giving districts more local control. 3:51:41 PM CHAIR TOBIN said the committee would now discuss the fiscal note for SB 18. 3:52:16 PM DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Innovation and Education Excellence Division, Department of Education and Early Development, Juneau, Alaska, provided a review of the fiscal note for SB 18, OMB component 2796, dated March 7, 2025. She said SB 18 has a zero fiscal note, and that the department could absorb cost associated with development of regulations, at this time. CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony for SB 18. 3:53:08 PM MATTHEW WITTHOEFT, Principle, Begich Middle School, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 18. He expressed agreement with Senator Wielechowski's comments and acknowledged the value of cell phones for safety and communication, particularly when students are away from parents, such as during travel. He noted, however, that cell phones are a major impediment to learning and shared personal and professional experiences illustrating the challenges of managing device use among youth. He stated that teachers at his school have repeatedly thanked him for relieving them of that burden and credited early efforts and district-wide policy language for building community and staff support. MR. WITTHOEFT addressed concerns about blocked educational websites, explaining that his one-to-one Chromebook school allows IT filter adjustments when needed. He emphasized that personal device use with unfiltered internet access and VPNs presents far greater risks than the limited benefit of accessing niche educational content. He concluded by referencing broader issues such as teen mental health and school safety, stating that restricting phone use has been one of the easiest and most effective decisions he has made as a first-year principal. 3:56:24 PM DORA WILSON, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 18 stating that she has lived, worked, and raised her children in Alaska. She has served as a therapeutic foster parent for 21 years, caring for over 50 youth. She also serves on the Anchorage School Board and shared that on March 4, the board unanimously passed a detailed policy on student possession and use of electronic communication devices, including cell phones. She credited Anchorage principals and educators for initiating the policy, which aims to improve academic outcomes and student mental health. MS. WILSON expressed support for district-level flexibility in implementing such policies, recognizing that needs vary across Alaska. Drawing from her experience as a parent and foster parent, she emphasized that electronic devices, particularly social media, can be harmful to youth mental health if not properly monitored. She described the development of a school- day phone use policy as a positive step to support educators and students and thanked Senator Wielechowski for his work supporting education and youth in Alaska. 3:59:44 PM SENATOR BJORKMAN asked Mr. Witthoeft whether, before implementing a ban on cell phone use, the school had a more flexible policy that allowed teachers to enforce rules individually, and if so, how effective that approach had been. MR. WITTHOEFT replied that the school previously used a flexible system where classrooms displayed signsred for no phone use and green for allowed use. However, after the pandemic, the number of students with phones increased significantly, and teachers were frequently forced to address phone distractions. He noted that larger class sizes compounded the issue. Inconsistent enforcement among teachers led to student complaints about varying rules. As a result, the administration determined a schoolwide policy was necessary for consistency and effectiveness. 4:02:04 PM CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 18. 4:02:28 PM SALLY DONALDSON, School Counselor, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 18 and said she has worked in schools for 20 years. She shared an experience from 12 years ago when she witnessed a teacher returning a box of cell phones to students following a statewide test, noting one student claimed three phones. She used this to illustrate that cell phones have long been a significant issue in schools. She supported restricting cell phones in Alaska schools for several reasons: cell phones cause distraction even when not in use; managing phones adds unnecessary responsibility to teachers; and students interact more meaningfully with each other when phones are absent. MS. D concluded by urging the committee to consider moving the bill forward. 4:05:27 PM MOREAN HALL, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 18. She said she is a retired school nurse from Juneau and current assembly member. She highlighted bullying as a major concern, noting that students now arrange fights during school hours, record them, and post them online, creating additional trauma and challenges for school staff and families. She stated that students with medical needs or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) could be exempted through accommodations, including Section 504 plans. On the use of translation apps, she advised consulting English as a Second Language teachers, noting that tools like Google Translate may hinder language learning. She emphasized the growing importance of focus in education, quoting author Cal Newport and warning that many students reach college without having read a full book. She urged support for SB 18, calling it a low-cost but high-impact step, while recommending some flexibility for local control. 4:07:41 PM SENATOR KIEHL asked whether Ms. Hall was speaking for herself or an elected official. MS. HALL replied she was representing herself. 4:08:11 PM ALLISON CURRY, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 18. She said she is a middle school teacher at Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks and shared her perspective on the impact of cell phones in schools, particularly with sixth graders. She emphasized that her students, born around 2012, have grown up in a world saturated with constant notifications, filters, and cameras. She noted however, that all students may not own a cell phone. She argued that public schools serve as a great equalizer and should be a refuge from digital pressurea place where students are free from surveillance, social media, and distractions. MS. CURRY highlighted the amount of instructional time lost to managing devices and stressed the importance of creating a school environment where students feel safe from being recorded or exposed without consent. She recounted an incident involving a nearby high school lockdown, where misinformation spread via student cell phones caused chaos, leading to a flood of parents surrounding the school and blocking access for emergency services. She urged support for SB 18, stressing the powerful impact such a policy could have in creating a safer, more focused learning environment. 4:12:11 PM CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 18. 4:12:24 PM CHAIR TOBIN held SB 18 in committee.