PRINTER'S NO. 184
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
25
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, CIRESI, GILLEN, KAZEEM, MADDEN, PARKER,
SANCHEZ AND SCHLOSSBERG, MARCH 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 8, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Establishing a task force to study social media platforms and
websites on which suicide is encouraged.
WHEREAS, Every suicide is an avoidable tragedy; and
WHEREAS, Suicide rates have risen in the United States over
the past 20 years, from 10.4 deaths per 100,000, with a total of
29,350 deaths, in 2000, to 13.5 deaths per 100,000, with 45,979
deaths, in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Suicides have risen in nearly every American age
cohort, but especially among those 15 to 24 years of age, with a
45% increase since 2009; and
WHEREAS, Over the past several years, web forums have been
established where individuals discuss and encourage suicide; and
WHEREAS, These websites can be easily accessed through online
search engines; and
WHEREAS, Forty-five individuals have been confirmed to have
killed themselves after accessing one particular suicide forum;
and
WHEREAS, One of these suicide victims was a Pennsylvania
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resident; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives has an interest in
preventing suicide through policy in order to promote the health
and well-being of Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, It is important that websites on which suicide is
encouraged are studied to determine what actions the
Commonwealth can take to prevent suicides stemming from these
websites; and
WHEREAS, There are a series of complications in regulating
websites on which suicide is encouraged, including:
(1) freedom of expression concerns, as several state
courts have found that encouraging others to commit suicide
is protected speech under the First Amendment; and
(2) the server for such websites moving frequently among
various jurisdictions to avoid government interference;
and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives desires advice on
legislation from a wide range of sources on how to regulate
social media platforms and websites on which suicide is
encouraged; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a task
force to study social media platforms and websites on which
suicide is encouraged; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following
members:
(1) the Attorney General, as chair of the task force;
(2) the Secretary of Health, or a designee;
(3) the Secretary of Human Services, or a designee;
(4) the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, or their
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designees;
(5) the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Health Committee of the House of Representatives, or their
designees;
(6) the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives, or
their designees;
(7) two clinical psychologists with experience working
with suicidal patients, appointed by the Governor;
(8) two experts in cyberbullying, appointed by the
Governor; and
(9) two suicide prevention advocates, appointed by the
Governor;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force issue a report within two years
of the adoption of this resolution with recommendations for
legislative and executive actions to prevent individuals from
committing suicide after visiting online forums on which suicide
is encouraged.
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