Bill > H106

This bill aims to regulate screen time in early and K-12 education. The key provisions include: 1. Requiring each public school authority to set and publish limits on school screen time and cellphone use, with input from the local community, school staff, students, and guardians. The bill provides baseline screen time limits for different grade levels, limiting interactive and passive screen time. 2. Establishing principles for setting screen time limits, such as ensuring educational benefits, minimizing adverse consequences, and prioritizing traditional learning methods over extensive screen time. 3. Mandating a public hearing process for authorities to set or revise screen time limits, with requirements for transparency and public participation. 4. Providing exceptions to screen time limits for specialized courses, extracurricular activities, and certain individual or emergency situations. 5. Requiring authorities to establish policies to prevent and address violations of the screen time limits. 6. Limiting the use of cellphones by students while at school, with exceptions for emergencies, health needs, and individualized education plans. 7. Eliminating educational mandates for the use of digital technology across the curriculum, except in specific technology-focused courses. 8. Regulating screen time and digital technology use in early education and care settings to prioritize non-digital activities and protect children's health and development.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H106