Bill > S2999

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Commission on the Effects of Smart Phone and Social Media Usage on Adolescents. Under the bill, the commission will consist of 15 members including: the Commissioner of Education, or a designee; one public member appointed by the President of the Senate and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and one public member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly; and 10 members appointed by the Governor, including one representative from each of the following organizations: the New Jersey School Boards Association, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey Parent-Teacher Association, Advocates for Children of New Jersey, the New Jersey School-Age Care Coalition, and the New Jersey Association of School Psychologists; and two parents of students enrolled in a public school. It will be the duty of the commission to determine: · the extent of smart phone and social media usage in public schools, including the average amount of time students in various age groups spend each day in school on electronic devices; · the effects that use has on the emotional health of students, including incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, or other disruptive or violent behaviors; · the effects that use has on the academic performance of students; and · the effects that use has on the physical health of students, including incidents of depression, sleep deprivation, weight loss or gain, or high blood pressure. The bill directs the commission to issue a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than one year after its organizational meeting. The commission will expire 30 days after the submission of the final report.

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Committee Categories

Richard Codey (D)*,  Joe Lagana (D)*,  Kristin Corrado (R),  Samuel Thompson (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 09/27/2018)