PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 573 PRINTER'S NO. 2100
No. 94 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WATERS, BISHOP, BLACKWELL, FREEMAN, GIBBONS,
HERSHEY, JAMES, KIRKLAND, MELIO, MYERS, PALLONE, READSHAW,
STABACK, STERN, WALKO, YOUNGBLOOD AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 6, 2007
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 26, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the House Children and Youth Committee JOINT STATE <--
2 GOVERNMENT COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE to
3 investigate the effects of violent interactive video games on <--
4 the children of this Commonwealth. IN CONTEXT WITH ALL OTHER <--
5 MEDIA FORMS CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
6 WHEREAS, Within the last ten years the video game market,
7 particularly the use of home video game systems, has exploded
8 throughout this Commonwealth and the nation; and
9 WHEREAS, Video games are available to children not only at
10 traditional places of business specializing in amusement but
11 also through a variety of retail outlets and magazine sales for
12 home use and by communication on the Internet; and
13 WHEREAS, Improvements to the picture, speed and resolution of
14 the new age of video games have made the depiction of
15 characters, places and events contained in the games amazingly
16 realistic; and
17 WHEREAS, Some, but not all, video games contain graphic and
18 repeated scenes of violence which include decapitation,
1 bloodshed, dismemberment, killing and death by the use of lethal
2 weapons or hand-to-hand combat; and
3 WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that violent crime
4 is a serious and persistent problem in our society, especially
5 among our youth; and
6 WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION HAS CONDUCTED <--
7 RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING THAT THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA PLAY AN
8 IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTITUDES, EMOTIONS, SOCIAL
9 BEHAVIOR AND INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING; AND
10 WHEREAS, THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES WHICH POINT OUT THAT
11 EXPOSURE TO VIOLENT MEDIA INCREASES TENDENCIES TO RESOLVE
12 MATTERS IN VIOLENT WAYS; AND
13 WHEREAS, The General Assembly further recognizes that, as
14 confirmed by current scientific data, the repeated exposure to
15 graphic violence and participation in violent interactive games
16 may contribute to violent behavior by our youth and desensitizes
17 them to acts of violence; and
18 WHEREAS, Information regarding the content of graphic <--
19 violence in movies and television programs as well as the lyrics
20 of music is provided to consumers and parents so that they may
21 make choices concerning the depiction of violence and whether
22 they elect to have their children exposed to violent content;
23 WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CURRENTLY RATING SYSTEMS FOR <--
24 TELEVISION, MOTION PICTURES AND VIDEO GAMES, THE AMOUNT AND
25 INTENSITY OF VIOLENCE TO WHICH CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE
26 EXPOSED HAVE INCREASED RATHER THAN DECREASED OVER THE LAST
27 DECADE; AND
28 WHEREAS, THERE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON STATE
29 REGULATION OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA SINCE THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY HAS
30 STRUCK DOWN OTHER LOCAL ORDINANCES AND STATE LAWS ADDRESSING
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1 VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE LAWS VIOLATE THE
2 FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE
3 COMMONWEALTH SHOULD REDOUBLE ITS EFFORTS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO
4 THIS PROBLEM WITHIN CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives <--
6 direct the House Children and Youth Committee to investigate the
7 effects of violent interactive video games on the children of
8 this Commonwealth; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the committee be authorized to hold hearings,
10 take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it
11 deems necessary in this Commonwealth; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the committee be authorized to issue subpoenas
13 under the hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to
14 appear before the committee and to answer questions touching
15 matters properly being inquired into by the committee and to
16 produce such books, papers, records and documents as the
17 committee deems necessary; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That subpoenas be servable upon any person and have
19 the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts of this
20 Commonwealth and that any person that willfully neglects or
21 refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any books,
22 papers, records or documents be subject to the penalties
23 provided by the laws of this Commonwealth in such cases; and be
24 it further
25 RESOLVED, That each member of the committee have power to
26 administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before
27 the committee; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DIRECT THE JOINT <--
29 STATE GOVERNMENT COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO
30 INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENT INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAMES ON
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1 THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMONWEALTH; AND BE IT FURTHER
2 RESOLVED, That the committee TASK FORCE report to the House <--
3 of Representatives on its activities, findings and
4 recommendations within 180 days of the adoption of this
5 resolution.
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