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New Push To Ban Hand-Held Cell Phones While Driving In Mass.

BOSTON (CBS) – There's a new push to ban hand-held cell phones while driving in Massachusetts.

The Joint Transportation Committee unanimously approved the latest version of the bill Thursday.

Read: Keller @ Large: It's Time To Ban Cell Phones While Driving

It's not clear yet when the measure will go the floor for debate.

A ban has twice passed in the House, but the Senate rejected it in 2010.

This bill would allow people to use only hands-free phones while driving.

State Senator Thomas McGee, a Democrat from Lynn, is co-chair of the Committee on Transportation.

He thinks the time is right for the bill.

"The technology is really changing. I think it's important that we have the discussion and we'll see where the Senate goes. I can't speak for my colleagues, but I know there was support in the Senate, it was a close vote and I think the committee felt it was an important step to move the bill forward," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday.

Nine other states already ban hand-held cell phone use while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently recommended a total ban on hand-held cell phone use in cars in the United States.

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