89R17144 LRM-F
By: Patterson H.B. No. 4994
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Department of State Health Services
regarding the effects of online activity on children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Child" means an individual who is younger than 18
years of age.
(2) "Department" means the Department of State Health
Services.
(b) The department, in collaboration with the Texas
Education Agency, shall conduct a study to assess the short-term
and long-term effects of online activity on a child's well-being.
(c) In conducting the study, the department shall:
(1) define the term "digital well-being" in the
context of children engaging in online activity;
(2) identify the desired positive outcomes for
children engaging in online activity and develop recommendations
for achieving those positive outcomes;
(3) identify and examine:
(A) the types of online activity that children
engage in that correspond with different digital well-being
outcomes, including an analysis of the content of the online
activity; and
(B) recommendations from public and private
institutions for best practices for ensuring children's online
activity is safe and healthy; and
(4) solicit feedback from children and children's
parents or legal guardians regarding specific harms that children
have experienced as a result of engaging in online activity.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2027, the department shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the commissioner of the department a
written report that:
(1) summarizes the results of the study conducted
under this section; and
(2) includes recommendations for legislative or other
action.
SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2028.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.