Vermont S 80: An act relating to establishing Vermont Digital Addictions Awareness Day

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.80
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S.80 1
Introduced by Senators Douglass, Cummings, Gulick, Harrison, Hart, 2
Heffernan, Lyons, Major, Norris, Westman and White 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: General provisions; legal holidays; commemorative days 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish 7
Vermont Digital Addictions Awareness Day in order to educate the public 8
regarding addictions to digital services and the resulting consequences. The 9
observance would also serve as an incentive, in combination with free State 10
park admission, to encourage families to use this day to explore the outdoors 11
and visit a State park or Vermont historic site. 12
An act relating to establishing Vermont Digital Addictions Awareness Day 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT 15
Digital addictions, whether mild or severe, are increasingly prevalent in 16
modern society, especially among the younger population. Mindless scrolling 17
on a digital device or overuse of video games stifles creativity, productivity, 18
and motivation and often leads to dependence on engaging in digital activities. 19
The establishment of the Vermont Digital Addictions Awareness Day is 20

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intended to raise public awareness of the problem and hopefully encourage 1
families and individuals to explore the outdoors and to visit Vermont State 2
parks and historic sites. 3
Sec. 2. 1 V.S.A. § 378 is added to read: 4
§ 378. VERMONT DIGITAL ADDICTIONS AWARENESS DAY 5
The last Saturday in the month of July is designated as Vermont Digital 6
Addictions Awareness Day. 7
Sec. 3. 10 V.S.A. § 2603 is amended to read: 8
§ 2603. POWERS AND DUTIES: COMMISSIONER 9
* * * 10
(c)(1) The Commissioner, subject to the direction and approval of the 11
Secretary, shall adopt and publish rules in the name of the Agency for the use 12
of State forests, or park lands, including reasonable fees or charges for the use 13
of lands, roads, camping sites, buildings, and other facilities and for the 14
harvesting of timber or removal of minerals or other resources from such lands, 15
notwithstanding 32 V.S.A. § 603. 16
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(5) On Digital Addictions Awareness Day, as established in accordance 18
with 1 V.S.A. § 378, the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, 19
pursuant to the fee setting authority of the Commissioner set forth in 20
subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall waive the one-day entry fee to State 21

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parks for families and individuals. Dependent upon the finances of the 1
Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Commissioner may limit this 2
waiver to residents of the State of Vermont. 3
* * * 4
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 5
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 6