AB 1282: Mental health: impacts of social media.

Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and authorizes the commission to take specified actions, including advising the Governor or the Legislature regarding actions the state may take to improve care and services for people with mental illness. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to, among other things, enforce its regulations and protect and preserve the public health.

This bill would require the department, in consultation with the commission, to report to specified policy committees of the Legislature, on or before December 31, 2026, a statewide strategy to understand, communicate, and mitigate mental health risks associated with the use of social media by children and youth. The bill would require the report to include, among other things, (1) the degree to which the mental health of children and youth is positively, negatively, or neutrally impacted by use of social media and (2) recommendations to strengthen children and youth resiliency strategies and Californias use of mental health services related to social media use. The bill would require the department to explore, among other things, the child and youth populations that use social media, including disproportionate rates and impacts among specific groups, and the negative behavioral health risks, as specified, associated with social media use and misuse among children and youth. The bill would require the department to additionally consult with certain communities in preparing the report, and prior to publication. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030.