STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1441

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   S.B. No. 433

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 433, 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 appropriate funds to the Department of Health (DOH) for the creation of a social marketing campaign to educate children and their families about proven interventions to reduce child and teen screen time.

 

     DOH and two individuals testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committees note that DOH estimates it would need $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2019-2020 and $350,000 in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 in order to develop the social media campaign required by this measure.

 

     Your Committees further note the concern that this bill as received by your Committees removed language requiring DOH to educate the public about the negative effects of screen time for children and teens and the negative impacts of over-consumption of screen time.  In particular, your Committees note that studies have been conducted that link high screen use with developmental delays in speech and motor functions.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure further, your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness respectfully urge your Committee on Finance to consider the language found in the original draft of this measure that requires DOH to establish an educational website and launch a public education campaign that informs the public of the effect of screen time on children and teens.

 

     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. 433, S.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading 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