HR0411 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0411 LRB097 12127 KXB 56139 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), established in 1994, is a self-regulatory organization that independently rates interactive entertainment software, including video and computer games; and

WHEREAS, The ESRB rating system provides age-based ratings and content descriptors for computer and video games, and through an advertising code requires the display of these ratings on all game packaging and marketing materials; and

WHEREAS, The ESRB works to promote the rating system and educate consumers about the use of the rating system, including distributing ESRB educational material and airing and publishing public service announcements in local and national media, including a PSA with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Major retailers in the United States have embraced the ESRB rating system and have committed themselves to not sell Mature-rated video games to persons under 17 years of age; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reported that national retailers successfully enforce this policy 87% of the time; and

WHEREAS, The ESRB's successful self-regulatory program has earned the praise of the FTC, which found it to be the most comprehensive rating system for any entertainment medium in the country and recognized its importance for helping parents make informed choices about the games their children play; and

WHEREAS, Not all online interactive entertainment games have been rated by the ESRB and therefore parents must be vigilant about what online games their children are playing; and

WHEREAS, the Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA) each year declares June to be Entertainment Ratings and Labeling Awareness Month, and, with the start of summer vacation for students, parents need to be vigilant about what their children are watching, playing, and listening to as well as the websites they are visiting; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge parents and caregivers to check the ESRB ratings when selecting computer and video games for children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we strongly encourage interactive entertainment software creators to submit their video, computer, and online games to be rated by the ESRB; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all interactive entertainment software creators, including video and computer game creators, to refrain from creating games based on real-life tragedies and violence against children.