The proposed legislation establishes the School Mobile Device Policy Fund in Idaho, aimed at supporting school districts and public charter schools in implementing bell-to-bell mobile device restriction policies for K-12 students. The bill outlines the negative impacts of mobile device usage on student outcomes, including distractions and mental health concerns, and emphasizes the need for policies that limit access to these devices during school hours. The fund will provide need-based grants to assist schools in purchasing necessary equipment and services to enforce these policies.

The new section added to Chapter 9, Title 33 of the Idaho Code details the eligibility criteria for schools to apply for grants, which include adopting a bell-to-bell mobile device policy and demonstrating financial need. The application process is managed by the state board of education, which will prioritize funding based on financial need and the number of students benefiting from the grants. Additionally, the bill mandates the collection of data on student performance and behavior to assess the effectiveness of the mobile device policies over a three-year period. The provisions of this act will expire on July 1, 2028, but it will take effect on July 1, 2025.