Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 3A the following section:-

Section 3A 1/2. The board of higher education may provide for programs and policies for the purchase and distribution of instructional electronic mobile devices at public institutions of higher education as set forth in section 5. Such programs or policies shall, at a minimum, meet the following criteria: (i) allow students to provide an alternative make and model of electronic mobile devices; (ii) the mobile device must be necessary for the student’s need for remote connectivity; (iii) the use of the device is specifically for higher education instruction; (iv) provide for a written policy statement on how the device will impact and enhance instruction and student success, including a description on how that device is currently being utilized in the student’s field of study; (v) a list of software or applications needed programmatically for the device; and (vi) planning for funding for proper storage and security of the mobile device.