HF 3504 Summary

• Children in publicly funded preschool or kindergarten programs may not use individual-use screens (tablets, smartphones, or other digital media) without engagement from a teacher or other students.

• The Department of Education must contract for production and implementation of a statewide public educational campaign to educate parents on screen use effects for children ages zero to five.

• The parent education campaign must include World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for screen use, research on effects on early childhood brain development, risks of excessive screen time, and effects of parental screen overuse when interacting with children under age five.

• An unspecified amount from the general fund is appropriated in fiscal year 2021 to the commissioner of education for the statewide public educational campaign.

• Any contractor producing and implementing the campaign must provide a private match of $1 for every $1 of state funds received.