SF 2896

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 05/17/2019 09:02am

A resolution
memorializing Congress to pass the Sunshine Protection Act.

WHEREAS, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2019 was introduced as S.R. 670/H.R. 1556,
and would apply to those states who currently participate in Daylight Saving Time. The Sunshine
Protection Act would end the need for Americans to change their clocks to observe Standard Time,
which is from November to March. Studies have shown that making Daylight Saving Time permanent
could benefit the economy, Minnesotans, and the country; and

WHEREAS, making Daylight Saving Time permanent could reduce car crashes and accidents
involving pedestrians. By better aligning daylight hours to drivers' standard work hours, drivers
would have better visibility, according to the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal
of Safety Research. Making Daylight Saving Time permanent could also reduce the number of
vehicle collisions with wildlife by eight to 11 percent by shifting normal traffic patterns away from
nocturnal wildlife behavior by one hour; and

WHEREAS, adopting the Sunshine Protection Act may reduce the risk for cardiac issues,
stroke, and seasonal affective disorder; and

WHEREAS, making Daylight Saving Time permanent has the potential to reduce robberies
by 27 percent as a result of additional daylight in the evening, according to a 2015 Brookings
Institution study; and

WHEREAS, passing the Sunshine Protection Act may benefit the economy, according to a
study by JP Morgan Chase. The study found that there is a drop in economic activity ranging from
2.2 to 4.9 percent when clocks are set back to Standard Time; and

WHEREAS, shifting to Daylight Saving Time permanently could reduce childhood obesity
and increase physical fitness. According to studies published by the International Journal Behavioral
Nutrition and Physical Activity and the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, children see an
increase in physical activity during Daylight Saving Time. The Journal of Environmental Psychology
found that Daylight Saving Time increased pedestrian activity by 62 percent and cyclist activity
by 38 percent due to increased daylight hours; and

WHEREAS, enacting the Sunshine Protection Act may benefit the agricultural economy,
which is disproportionately disrupted by biannual changes in time by upsetting the synergy between
farmers' schedules and their supply chain partners; and

WHEREAS, by making Daylight Saving Time year-round, energy usage could be reduced.
The United States Department of Energy found that during the four weeks the United States extended
Daylight Saving Time from 2005 law, there were electricity savings of roughly one-half percent
per day; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it urges the President
and the Congress of the United States to adopt the Sunshine Protection Act.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is directed
to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States, the
President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.