HR 65 — A Resolution establishing a task force to study social media platforms and websites on which suicide is encouraged.

PRINTER'S NO.   543

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 65
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, BRENNAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI,
        FREEMAN, GIRAL, GREEN, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
        HOWARD, KENYATTA, KHAN, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG AND STEELE,
        FEBRUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
        FEBRUARY 10, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Establishing a task force to study social media platforms and
 2      websites on which suicide is encouraged.
 3      WHEREAS, Every suicide is an avoidable tragedy; and
 4      WHEREAS, Suicide rates have risen in the United States over
 5   the past 20 years, from 10.4 deaths per 100,000, with a total of
 6   29,350 deaths, in 2000, to 13.5 deaths per 100,000, with 45,979
 7   deaths, in 2020; and
 8      WHEREAS, Suicide rates have risen amongst nearly every age
 9   group, but especially for youths and young adults ages 10 to 24,
10   with a 52.2% increase between 2000 and 2021; and
11      WHEREAS, Over the past several years, web forums have been
12   established where individuals discuss and encourage suicide; and
13      WHEREAS, These websites can be easily accessed through online
14   search engines; and
15      WHEREAS, Forty-five individuals have been confirmed to have
16   killed themselves after accessing one particular suicide forum;
 1   and
 2         WHEREAS, One of these suicide victims was a Pennsylvania
 3   resident; and
 4         WHEREAS, The House of Representatives has an interest in
 5   preventing suicide through policy in order to promote the health
 6   and well-being of Pennsylvanians; and
 7         WHEREAS, It is important that websites on which suicide is
 8   encouraged are studied to determine what actions the
 9   Commonwealth can take to prevent suicides stemming from these
10   websites; and
11         WHEREAS, There are a series of complications in regulating
12   websites on which suicide is encouraged, including:
13             (1)   freedom of expression concerns, as several state
14         courts have found that encouraging others to commit suicide
15         is protected speech under the First Amendment; and
16             (2)   the server for such websites moving frequently among
17         various jurisdictions to avoid government interference;
18   and
19         WHEREAS, The House of Representatives desires advice on
20   legislation from a wide range of sources on how to regulate
21   social media platforms and websites on which suicide is
22   encouraged; therefore be it
23         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a task
24   force to study social media platforms and websites on which
25   suicide is encouraged; and be it further
26         RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following
27   members:
28             (1)   the Attorney General, as chair of the task force;
29             (2)   the Secretary of Health, or a designee;
30             (3)   the Secretary of Human Services, or a designee;

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 1          (4)     the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 2      Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, or their
 3      designees;
 4          (5)     the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 5      Health Committee of the House of Representatives, or their
 6      designees;
 7          (6)     the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
 8      Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives, or
 9      their designees;
10          (7)     two clinical psychologists with experience working
11      with suicidal patients, appointed by the Governor;
12          (8)     two experts in cyberbullying, appointed by the
13      Governor; and
14          (9)     two suicide prevention advocates, appointed by the
15      Governor;
16   and be it further
17      RESOLVED, That the task force issue a report within two years
18   of the adoption of this resolution with recommendations for
19   legislative and executive actions to prevent individuals from
20   committing suicide after visiting online forums on which suicide
21   is encouraged.




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