STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2655

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2458

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2458 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Department of Health to create and host a website and launch a public education campaign on the effects of screen time on children and teens.

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

Your Committees find that there is a growing body of empirical data and anecdotal accounts that suggest time spent in front of screens has a negative impact on children's mental health and healthy relationship formation. 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. However, 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 would provide additional resources for families regarding the effects of screen time on children's and teens' mental health and their ability to form strong, healthy relationships.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the website requirements to include a link and references to national websites that offer evidence-based screen time guidelines by age group, resources, and best practices for parents;

(2) Deleting language that would have required the website to answer frequently asked questions; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2458, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2458, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Technology,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair