Committee approves bill letting county boards set device policies, expands medical exemption
April 07, 2025 | 2025 Legislature WV, West Virginia
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A Senate committee voted to report House Bill 2003, as amended, to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass. The bill would require each county board of education to adopt a policy governing whether personal electronic devices are permitted on school property and to include procedures for storage, specified exemptions, consequences and documentation requirements.
Committee counsel summarized the bill and the proposed committee amendment. Counsel said county board policies must specify whether personal electronic devices will be permitted on school property and, if permitted, must include where and how devices will be stored during the instructional day. The policies must include at least two exemptions: students with an approved documented need as required by a medical doctor or licensed health care professional or under an IEP or 504 plan, and students participating in county board–approved work-based learning programs when the device is related to that program.
The policies must set consequences for violations, including penalties for first and subsequent offenses, confiscation of devices, or requiring a parent or guardian to retrieve a device. If a student is prohibited from possessing devices on school property because of documented misuse, county boards must offer a conference with the parent or guardian to discuss the prohibition. Schools must document all violations in the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) and make reasonable efforts to disseminate acceptable-use information; local school improvement councils must annually discuss implementation progress.
The committee adopted a committee amendment that "slightly expands the medical related exemption by allowing students with an approved documented need as required by the students' healthcare providers, medical orders, or other written accommodation plan to have access to personal electronic devices if the device relates to the student's specific need," according to committee counsel.
Vice Chair moved adoption of the amendment; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. Vice Chair then moved that House Bill 2003, as amended, be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the committee adopted that motion by voice vote.
The action advances the bill to the full Senate for further consideration.
Committee counsel summarized the bill and the proposed committee amendment. Counsel said county board policies must specify whether personal electronic devices will be permitted on school property and, if permitted, must include where and how devices will be stored during the instructional day. The policies must include at least two exemptions: students with an approved documented need as required by a medical doctor or licensed health care professional or under an IEP or 504 plan, and students participating in county board–approved work-based learning programs when the device is related to that program.
The policies must set consequences for violations, including penalties for first and subsequent offenses, confiscation of devices, or requiring a parent or guardian to retrieve a device. If a student is prohibited from possessing devices on school property because of documented misuse, county boards must offer a conference with the parent or guardian to discuss the prohibition. Schools must document all violations in the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) and make reasonable efforts to disseminate acceptable-use information; local school improvement councils must annually discuss implementation progress.
The committee adopted a committee amendment that "slightly expands the medical related exemption by allowing students with an approved documented need as required by the students' healthcare providers, medical orders, or other written accommodation plan to have access to personal electronic devices if the device relates to the student's specific need," according to committee counsel.
Vice Chair moved adoption of the amendment; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. Vice Chair then moved that House Bill 2003, as amended, be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the committee adopted that motion by voice vote.
The action advances the bill to the full Senate for further consideration.
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