NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A bill that would limit cell phone use in Tennessee classrooms was introduced on Tuesday.

House Bill 13 (HB13) was introduced by State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka).

Rep. Cepicky is the chairman of the Education Instruction Subcommittee and serves on the Education Administration Committee, Education Instruction Committee, and Insurance Subcommittee.

Rep. Cepicky said the bill would require school boards to adopt policies that would prohibit students from using “wireless communication devices” during class, with some exceptions.

Those exceptions include using phones for educational purposes, under the directive of teachers, for student health emergencies and needs of disabled students.

HB13 would also allow teachers to take devices from students who break the rules of the usage policies, Rep. Cepicky said.

“Fostering an environment of student engagement and focus during instructional periods is essential to a quality education,” Cepicky said. “Cell phone usage in the classroom presents an unnecessary distraction for students and is unfair to the hard-working teachers who are passionate about educating the next generation. This legislation will limit interruptions and empower Tennessee’s children to concentrate on learning, which can improve social skills, mental health and academic performance.”

Rep. Cepicky referenced the Pew Research Center, which said more than 70 percent of American high school teachers think phones and devices are a “major problem” in classrooms.

“Studies have concluded that enacting restrictions on cell phone usage during instructional periods increases academic performance, specifically for low-achieving students,” Rep. Cepicky said.

Currently, at least eight states have cell phone restrictions in schools.

The 114th Tennessee General Assembly is set to convene on Jan. 14, Rep. Cepicky said.