BILL REQ. #: H-0362.1
State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2003 Regular Session |
Prefiled 12/30/2002. Read first time 01/13/2003. Referred to Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Law.
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.