HB4023 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 11300 RLC 42106 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB4023

Introduced 2/28/2005, by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia - Paul D. Froehlich - Monique D. Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

720 ILCS 5/Art. 12A heading new
720 ILCS 5/12A-1 new
720 ILCS 5/12A-5 new
720 ILCS 5/12A-10 new
720 ILCS 5/12A-15 new
720 ILCS 5/12A-20 new
720 ILCS 5/12A-25 new
720 ILCS 5/Art. 12B heading new
720 ILCS 5/12B-1 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-5 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-10 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-15 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-20 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-25 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-30 new
720 ILCS 5/12B-35 new

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the Violent Video Games Law. Provides that a person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any violent video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed. Provides that a family member's purchase of a violent video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this provision. Establishes labeling requirements for violent video games. Creates the Sexually Explicit Video Games Law. Provides that a person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any sexually explicit video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed. Provides that a family member's purchase of a sexually explicit video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this provision. Establishes labeling requirements for sexually explicit video games. Provides that these laws are severable. Effective January 1, 2006.

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning video games.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by adding Articles 12A and 12B as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/Art. 12A heading new)

ARTICLE 12A. VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES

(720 ILCS 5/12A-1 new)

Sec. 12A-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Violent Video Games Law.

(720 ILCS 5/12A-5 new)

Sec. 12A-5. Findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds that minors who play violent video games are more likely to:

(1) Exhibit violent, asocial, or aggressive behavior.

(2) Experience feelings of aggression.

(3) Experience a reduction of activity in the frontal lobes of the brain which is responsible for controlling behavior.

(b) While the video game industry has adopted its own voluntary standards describing which games are appropriate for minors, those standards are not adequately enforced.

(c) Minors are capable of purchasing and do purchase violent video games.

(d) The State has a compelling interest in preventing violent, aggressive, and asocial behavior.

(e) The State has a compelling interest in preventing psychological harm to minors who play violent video games.

(f) The State has a compelling interest in eliminating any societal factors that may inhibit the physiological and neurological development of its youth.

(g) The State has a compelling interest in facilitating the maturation of Illinois' children into well-meaning, productive adults.

(720 ILCS 5/12A-10 new)

Sec. 12A-10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) "Video game retailer" means a person who sells or rents video games to the public.

(b) "Video game" means an object or device that stores recorded data or instructions, receives data or instructions generated by a person who uses it, and, by processing the data or instructions, creates an interactive game capable of being played, viewed, or experienced on or through a computer, gaming system, console, or other technology.

(c) "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.

(d) "Person" includes but is not limited to an individual, corporation, partnership, and association.

(e) "Violent" video games include realistic depictions of human-on-human violence in which the player kills, seriously injures, or otherwise causes serious physical harm to another human, including but not limited to depictions of death, dismemberment, amputation, decapitation, maiming, disfigurement, mutilation of body parts, or rape.

(720 ILCS 5/12A-15 new)

Sec. 12A-15. Restricted sale or rental of violent video games. A person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any violent video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed.

(720 ILCS 5/12A-20 new)

Sec. 12A-20. Family purchase exemption.

(a) A family member's purchase of a violent video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this Article.

(b) For the purpose of this Section, "family member" includes a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and first cousin.

(720 ILCS 5/12A-25 new)

Sec. 12A-25. Labeling of violent video games.

(a) Video game retailers shall label all violent video games as defined in this Article, with a solid white "18" outlined in black. The "18" shall have dimensions of no less than 2 inches by 2 inches. The "18" shall be displayed on the front face of the video game package.

(b) A retailer's failure to comply with this Section is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $1,000 for the first 3 violations, and a business offense punishable by a fine of $5,000 for every subsequent violation.

(720 ILCS 5/Art. 12B heading new)

ARTICLE 12B. SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO GAMES

(720 ILCS 5/12B-1 new)

Sec. 12B-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Sexually Explicit Video Games Law.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-5 new)

Sec. 12B-5. Findings. The General Assembly finds sexually explicit video games inappropriate for minors.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-10 new)

Sec. 12B-10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) "Video game retailer" means a person who sells or rents video games to the public.

(b) "Video game" means an object or device that stores recorded data or instructions, receives data or instructions generated by a person who uses it, and, by processing the data or instructions, creates an interactive game capable of being played, viewed, or experienced on or through a computer, gaming system, console, or other technology.

(c) "Minor" means a person under 18 years of age.

(d) "Person" includes but is not limited to an individual, corporation, partnership, and association.

(e) "Sexually explicit" video games include those that the average person, applying contemporary community standards would find, with respect to minors, is designed to appeal or pander to the prurient interest and depicts or represents in a manner patently offensive with respect to minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, an actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual act or a lewd exhibition of the genitals or post-pubescent female breast.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-15 new)

Sec. 12B-15. Restricted sale or rental of sexually explicit video games. A person who sells, rents, or permits to be sold or rented, any sexually explicit video game to any minor, commits a Class A misdemeanor for which a fine of $5,000 may be imposed.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-20 new)

Sec. 12B-20. Family purchase exemption.

(a) A family member's purchase of a sexually explicit video game for another family member who is a minor does not constitute a violation of this Article.

(b) "Family member" for the purpose of this Section, includes a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and first cousin.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-25 new)

Sec. 12B-25. Labeling of sexually explicit video games.

(a) Video game retailers shall label all sexually explicit video games as defined in this Act, with a solid white "18" outlined in black. The "18" shall have dimensions of no less than 2 inches by 2 inches. The "18" shall be displayed on the front face of the video game package.

(b) A retailer who fails to comply with this Section is guilty of a petty offense punishable by a fine of $1,000 for the first 3 violations, and a business offense punishable by a $5,000 fine for every subsequent violation.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-30 new)

Sec. 12B-30. Posting notification of video games rating system.

(a) A retailer who sells or rents video games shall post a sign that notifies customers that a video game rating system, created by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, is available to aid in the selection of a game. The sign shall be prominently posted in, or within 5 feet of, the area in which games are displayed for sale or rental, at the information desk if one exists, and at the point of purchase.

(b) The lettering of each sign shall be printed, at a minimum, in 36-point type and shall be in black ink against a light colored background, with dimensions of no less than 18 by 24 inches.

(c) A retailer's failure to comply with this Section is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $1,000 for the first 3 violations, and a business offense punishable by a $5,000 fine for every subsequent violation.

(720 ILCS 5/12B-35 new)

Sec. 12B-35. Availability of brochure describing rating system.

(a) A video game retailer shall make available upon request a brochure to customers that explains the Entertainment Software Ratings Board ratings system.

(b) A retailer who fails to comply with this Section shall receive the punishment described in subsection (b) of Section 12B-25.

Section 98. Severability. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Section 99. Effective Date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2006.