SF 237

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/26/2021 09:35am

A bill for an act
relating to education; limiting the use of individual-use screens in preschool and
kindergarten; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.166] LIMIT ON SCREEN TIME FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL
AND KINDERGARTEN.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Limit on use. new text end

new text begin A child in a publicly funded preschool or kindergarten
program may not use an individual-use screen, such as a tablet, smartphone, or other digital
media, without engagement from a teacher or other students.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Parent education. new text end

new text begin The Department of Education must contract for the
production and implementation of a statewide public educational campaign to educate
parents on the effects of screen use on children. The campaign must inform parents of the
World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for screen use
for children ages zero to five, research on screen use and effects on early childhood brain
development, the potential risks of excessive screen time impacting mental and physical
development, and the effects of parental overuse of screens when interacting with children
under age five.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2022 from the general fund to the commissioner of
education for a statewide public educational campaign to educate parents on the effects of
screen use on children. The contractor producing and implementing the campaign must
provide a private match of $1 for every $1 received.
new text end