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administrators and teachers oppose the bill. Educators argue that arming teachers could make schools more dangerous, lead to accidental shootings and put guns in the hands of people not adequately trained to shoot in emergency situations.
• "They do want more time to talk about this," Parsley said of educators.
• But Craig said he's received messages from a growing number of school board members and administrators who support the bill. Rural districts do not have the money to hire full-time law officers, so they are interested in arming teachers or volunteers, he said.
• Under the bill, local law enforcement agencies would have to approve a school's program. Teachers and others taking part in such a program would undergo training devised by the same state commission that oversees the training of law enforcement officers. Teachers could not be forced to carry guns.
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SD House passes cellphone ban for young drivers
CHET BROKAW,Associated Press
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A measure that would prohibit beginning drivers from using cellphones was approved Monday by the South Dakota House after an acrimonious debate sparked by an opponent's suggestion that the Legislature also should ban premarital sex, provocative clothing, eating junk food and other teen activities.
• Representatives voted 43-23 to pass the measure, which would ban young drivers from using cellphones or other electronic devices until they get unrestricted licenses at age 16. The bill, resurrected after being narrowly rejected by the House last week, now returns to the Senate for consideration of a change made by the House.
• The ban on cellphone use by young drivers was part of a package of four bills recommended by a task force set up by Legislature to find ways to reduce teen traffic crashes and the resulting injuries and deaths. The other three bills have been rejected.
• Much of Monday's debate was spent on a proposed amendment suggested by Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, who sought language that also would have banned 14- and 15-year-old drivers from engaging in a long list of behavior that included drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, getting bad grades, failing to eat broccoli and talking back to parents and teachers. He said he proposed the language to show that law enforcement officers would also be unable to enforce a ban on cellphone use by young drivers.
• "It points out the hypocrisy in this bill," Nelson said.
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