Bill banning cellphones in school moves closer to becoming law

Rep. Jorge Navarro Suárez

By The Star Staff

The island Senate on Thursday approved House Bill 179, which aims to prohibit the use of cell phones and other electronic devices by students in the public school system up to their fourth year of high school while on campus.

The measure, authored by New Progressive Party Rep. Jorge “Georgie” Navarro Suárez, received 25 votes in favor and three against.

“What they’re trying to do is ensure that from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., students arrive at school, put their cell phones away, and can pick them up in the afternoon, unless they need them for educational purposes and have a teacher’s permission to use them,” Navarro Suárez stated in a radio interview, adding that the bill includes measures to protect minors from exposure to inappropriate content. “During lunchtime and breaks, students are expected to spend time with their peers rather than sitting in a corner on their phones. It has already been established that excessive cell phone use affects health and cognitive function, among other things. This was discussed in the public hearings, and now it just needs the governor’s signature to be implemented.”

Initially, the bill was aimed at students up to 6th grade, but the Department of Education requested that it apply through high school, similar to practices in some private schools and other countries.

The legislator said the previous regulations were ineffective and often ignored, making it difficult for educators to teach. He added that each school must adapt the regulations to fit its specific needs and circumstances.