The Oklahoma House Education Oversight Committee gives its approval to the “Bell-to-Bell, No Cell” bill.

The measure would prohibit student use of cell phones during the school day. The legislation requires that any policy prohibiting cell phone use must also include a provision for emergency use, including items used for medical issues. The bill also leave it up to the local district how it chooses to implement the cell phone ban. It would also allow school boards the option to allow student cell phone use, but the policy would need to be approved annually.

The legislation is the first bill to be heard and considered in the Oklahoma House's new two-tiered committee structure and is expected to be heard on the floor later this week.