HARRISBURG — It's still legal for drivers to use hand-held cellular telephones on Pennsylvania highways, although that may be news to some people.

Someone — the source has not been identified — recently circulated a professional-looking flier that erroneously claimed the Legislature had approved a bill to outlaw the widespread practice effective Nov. 10. A rumor spread rapidly through the e-mail grapevine.

One legislative staffer reported hearing from confused friends and relatives from Western Pennsylvania to New Jersey.

"Apparently, some national group confused the introduction of a bill with the passage," said Sam Marshall, a lobbyist for the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, who said the misinformation also made the rounds among insurance agents before his group could dispel the report.

Had such a bill really been enacted, it would have been huge news.

As consumers' appetite for ever-smaller electronic accessories continues to grow, so do calls for tackling the problem of "distracted drivers." Legislative efforts to limit drivers' use of cell phones in Pennsylvania date back to at least 2000, but none has passed.

Nationally, five states — California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Washington — and the District of Columbia bar drivers from using hand-held cell phones behind the wheel, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver. Some states impose the ban only on young or novice drivers.

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, has resurrected a bill that would ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones. It passed the Senate last year, but was derailed by leaders of the House Republicans, then in the majority.

This year, with Democrats in charge, "I think we have a much better opportunity," he said.

The House Transportation Committee today is scheduled to hold a hearing on Shapiro's bill, as well as proposals to ban the behind-the-wheel use of text-messaging devices and the use of wireless phones by school-bus drivers.

Shapiro's bill would ban the use of phones that require the use of the driver's hand to operate, but it would allow motorists to engage in wireless conversations if they use a headphone or loudspeaker system that allows hands-free operation.

Violators could be fined as much as $50, and an exception would be allowed for motorists using their phones to call 911.