A bevy of new state laws take effect Thursday, Aug. 28 in Missouri, including the statewide ban on student cell phone use during the school day.

Multiple school districts instituted bans to take effect at the start of the school year through board policies. Some of those policies include a handful of exceptions, including one codified Monday by the Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education. Supt. Dr Todd Fraley says the exception pertains to dual-credit enrollment classes.

Senate Bill 68, which established the ban, allows school districts to authorize the use of cell phones for an education purpose. Exceptions in the bill allow their use in the event of an emergency situation including an active shooter, fire, tornado, earthquake, medical emergency, or if the school grounds have to be evacuated. Additional exceptions are allowed if necessary to comply with certain federal laws, an individualized education plan, or individualized health care plan.

The statewide cell phone ban is subject to a sunset clause, meaning that these provisions can come off the books in seven years.