South Carolina S 65: Electronic Communication Device in the Classroom

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 65 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 11, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 65

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 59-63-280, RELATING TO WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES AND 
THE ADOPTION OF POLICIES ADDRESSING STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE POSSESSION, SO AS TO 
PROHIBIT THE USE OF A PERSONAL WIRELESS ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN 
CLASSROOMS DURING PERIODS OF ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 59-63-280 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
59-63-280. (A) For purposes of this 
section, "paging device" means a telecommunications, to 
include mobile telephones, device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, 
displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the 
possessor. "wireless electronic communication 
device" means an electronic device such as a telephone, personal digital 
assistant, paging device, text-messaging device, watch, or any other device 
similar in function that can be used to wirelessly communicate with another 
person or a device used to listen to such wireless communication devices.

 (B) 
The board of trustees of each school district shall must adopt a policy that addresses student possession of paging devices wireless electronic 
communication devices. as defined in subsection (A)The policy, at a minimum, must include a prohibition of the use 
of a personal wireless electronic communication device in classrooms during 
periods of academic instruction. This policy must be included in the 
district's written student conduct standards. If the 
policy includes confiscation of a paging device, as defined in subsection (A), 
it should also provide for the return of the device to the owner.

 (C) The board of trustees of each 
school district must adopt a policy that addresses employee use of a personal 
wireless electronic communication device. The policy, at a minimum, must 
include a prohibition of the use of wireless electronic communication devices 
in classrooms during periods of academic instruction when students are present.

 (D) If the policy includes 
confiscation of a wireless electronic communication device, it must also 
provide for the return of the device to the owner.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 11, 2024 at 04:36 PM