HB 1315 - DIGEST

     Directs the department of health to prepare and submit a report to the legislature, not later than December 31, 1999, on the most effective ways for parents to control juvenile access to violent video games.

     Directs the department of revenue to conduct a study of methods for collecting a user fee on the rental and sales of unrated video games, video games rated NC-17 and M, and video games that are even more restrictively rated.  All user fees collected shall be divided evenly, with fifty percent of the user fee being distributed to the crime victims' compensation program and the remaining fifty percent being distributed to the department of health for parent education programming.

     Directs the department of health to implement and obtain, through a request for proposal process, a definitive scientific study, in addition to and exceeding the report mandated in this act.  The department shall ensure that the study addresses:  (1) Whether, and to what extent, violent video games encourage or increase aggressive acts by juveniles exposed to those games, with specificity regarding specific games and types of games, and with specificity regarding juvenile age groups; and

     (2) effective methods for parental control of juvenile access to violent video games and for abatement of aggressive juvenile behaviors related to violent video games.