STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1120-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2458

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 2458, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCREEN TIME AWARENESS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Health to create and host an informational website and launch an educational outreach campaign on the effects of excessive screen time on the mental health and relationships of children and teenagers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that a growing body of empirical data and anecdotal accounts suggest that time spent in front of screens has an adverse effect upon children's mental health and healthy relationship formation. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that excessive screen time may have a significant impact on the increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide among teenager. Your Committees further find that, despite this research, the State lacks an educational resource for families on the effects of excessive screen time and best practices for limiting screen time. This measure will give parents in Hawaii convenient access to resources about the effects of screen time on children's and teenagers' mental health and their ability to form strong, healthy relationships.

Your Committees note that the Department of Health estimated in its written testimony that the costs to implement this measure would be $200,000 in fiscal year 2020-2021 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022. Your Committees recognize that the global pandemic of COVID-19 has caused major economic impacts at the state, national, and international levels and that fiscal resources are severely strained at this time. However, your Committees will continue to collaborate with other committees to develop sound public policy that benefits the people of Hawaii.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its substantive provisions and instead requiring the Behavioral Health Services Administration of the Department of Health to convene a working group to compile resources to inform and educate the public about the impacts of excessive digital image screen time on the mental health and relationships of children and teenagers and report to the Legislature;

(2) Removing the appropriations section;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2458, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2458, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair