THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

433

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO SCREEN TIME AWARENESS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a growing body of empirical data and anecdotal accounts that suggest that time spent in front of electronic screens has a negative impact on children's physical, emotional, and cognitive health.  Neuroscience research shows that social media, video games, and web surfing trigger the same dopamine networks that are triggered by drug use.  A growing body of evidence also suggests that excessive screen time may have an important impact on the high increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide among teens.  Excessive screen time has also been found to be a casual factor for both sedentary lifestyles and obesity, which are serious concerns for Hawaii youth.

     The average Hawaii youth is reported to spend three hours a day playing video games.  Additionally, attention and motivation may be impacted, which may have negative implications for academic and professional success.  Despite this research and the fact that managing screen time is a ubiquitous problem parents face, the State lacks an educational resource for families on the effects of excessive screen time and best practices for limiting screen time.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the creation of a social marketing campaign targeting children and their families to inform them of proven interventions to reduce child and teen screen time.

     SECTION 2.  The department of health shall create and implement a social marketing campaign to increase physical activity and reduce screen time, targeting children and their families and based on proven interventions.  The department shall submit a report to the legislature on the following:

     (1)  The methodology and proven scientific basis for the interventions upon which the social marketing campaign is based;

     (2)  The target ages for the social marketing campaign and the data to support the selection of the demographic populations; and

     (3)  An evaluation of findings from the social marketing campaign.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the department of health's social marketing campaign to increase physical activity and reduce screen time for children and teens.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

DOH; Screen Time; Social Marketing Campaign; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to create a social marketing campaign targeting children and their families to inform them of proven interventions to reduce child and teen screen time.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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