Lawmaker introduces bill to crack down on cellphones in school

Lawmaker introduces bill to crackdown on cellphones in school 5 p.m.

A state lawmaker is pushing to keep cell phones out of classroom, but how exactly are they planning on doing it?

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Do you know how much time you spend on your cell phone? The number of hours can be eye-popping, and it’s one reason there’s a growing push to get them out of children’s hands when they’re in school.

There’s a bill moving through the Roundhouse, and New Mexico is not the first state to consider it. The idea is to incentivize school districts to crack down on students’ cell phones. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Crystal Brantley.

The Republican representing southern New Mexico joked she even has support from the teachers’ union on this issue. She’s taking that as a sign her bill has a chance, and it’s one of the bills off to fast start this session.

Senate Bill 11 is called the anti-distraction policy in schools. It puts aside $10 million to sweeten the pot for school districts to come up with its own policies to limit cell phone use in the classroom. That $10 million would then be used for things like cell phone lockers or pouches.

Brantely says part of her motivation for the bill was her two teenage daughters. She says the average teen is on their phone for more than five hours per day, and she suspects it is higher.

When we were in the Roundhouse, we asked the state senator just how much she’s on her phone.

“Last week, I was preparing for the legislative session, OK?” said Brantley. “We’re poking fun at each other, but we use our phones to work, would you agree? Kids in the classroom are not using this for school.”

Jokes aside, this issue is serious. Other states have already taken action requiring schools to ban cell phones in the classroom.

Brantley says this is about improving academic performance and also children’s mental health.

4 Investigates’ Missing Pieces story will look at schools that already banned cell phones and why some say Brantley’s bill does not go far enough. Tune in Tuesday to KOB 4 on the Nightbeat.