HOUSE BILL NO. 3077 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHMIDT.
6737H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 170, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to curriculum on using social media.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 170, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 170.043, to read as follows: 170.043. 1. Each school district shall develop a curriculum for grades six 2 through twelve containing at least one unit of instruction studying the responsible use of 3 social media. Such curriculum shall be submitted to the department of elementary and 4 secondary education. The curriculum developed shall be taught beginning in the 2027- 5 28 school year and on a yearly basis. 6 2. The curriculum developed by each school district under subsection 1 of this 7 section shall provide students with the following information: 8 (1) The social, emotional, and physical effects of social media on users; 9 (2) The effects of social media on the mental health of users, particularly 10 teenagers; 11 (3) The distribution of disinformation and misinformation on social media; 12 (4) How social media influences thoughts and behaviors; 13 (5) The permanency and risks of sharing material online; 14 (6) How to maintain personal security and identify cyberbullying, predatory 15 behavior, and human trafficking on the internet and social media; and 16 (7) How to report suspicious behavior encountered on the internet and social 17 media to appropriate persons and authorities.
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 3077 2
18 3. In addition to the required curriculum provided under subsection 2 of this 19 section, a school district may incorporate in such curriculum information regarding the 20 benefits of social media use, which may include career readiness support for future 21 academic or employment opportunities, the sharing of information with familiar family 22 and friends, and safely connecting with other internet users with similar interests. 23 4. In lieu of a school district developing its own curriculum under subsection 1 of 24 this section, a school district may satisfy the requirements of this section through the 25 adoption or implementation of curriculum, instructional materials, or resources 26 developed by a third-party organization approved or recognized by the department 27 of elementary and secondary education. 28 5. Each school district shall provide resources to school district staff and families 29 of students enrolled in the school district regarding technology use, including the 30 following: 31 (1) Help with leveraging parental controls on technology devices; 32 (2) Time restrictions on the use of technology devices; and 33 (3) Information regarding the negative impacts that prolonged screen time and 34 access to the internet may have on a person's well-being. ✔
Statutes affected: