H-3037.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2363

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Dickerson, Delvin, Hurst, O'Brien, Tokuda, Lovick, Edwards, Kagi, Sommers and Schual‑Berke

Read first time 01/16/2002.  Referred to Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law.

Prohibiting sale of violent computer and video games to minors.

    AN ACT Relating to video and computer games depicting violence against public law enforcement officers; adding a new section to chapter 9.91 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there has been an increase in studies showing a correlation between exposure to violent video and computer games and various forms of hostile and antisocial behavior.  The entertainment software industry's ratings and content descriptors of video and computer games reflect that some video and computer games are suitable only for adults due to graphic depictions of sex and/or violence.  Furthermore, some video and computer games focus on violence specifically against public law enforcement officers such as police and fire fighters.

    The legislature has a compelling interest to curb hostile and antisocial behavior in Washington's youth and to foster respect for public law enforcement officers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 9.91 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any violent video or computer game to any minor is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable under chapter 9.92 RCW.

    (2) "Minor" means a person under eighteen years of age.

    (3) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association engaged in the business of selling or renting video or computer games.

    (4) "Violent video or computer game" means a video or computer game that:

    (a) Contains realistic or photographic-like depictions of aggressive conflict in which the player kills, injures, or otherwise causes violence to a human form in the game who is depicted, by dress or other recognizable symbols, as a public law enforcement officer; and

    (b) Has been given a rating of "Mature," "For Adults Only," or an equivalent rating by the video or computer game manufacturer or any entertainment rating board commonly used by the video and computer game industry.

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