S.R. 4

1

RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING PARENTS OVERSIGHT
2 OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION VIEWING
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Scott N. Howell
6 A RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE ENCOURAGING PARENTS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE
7 IN THEIR CHILDREN'S TELEVISION VIEWING HABITS AND USE AVAILABLE
8 TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP DIRECT FAMILY TELEVISION VIEWING HABITS.
9 Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
10 WHEREAS never in the history of television has there been a wider array of programming
11 available for the entertainment and education of American families;
12 WHEREAS in 1976, the American Medical Association stated "TV violence is a risk factor
13 threatening the health and welfare of young Americans, indeed our future society";
14 WHEREAS since 1976, not only the violent but the sexual content of some television
15 programs has risen dramatically, leading to potentially harmful, lifelong consequences for children
16 exposed to it;
17 WHEREAS on average, children are bombarded by 20,000 commercial television
18 messages each year;
19 WHEREAS these conditions have created an increased need for parents to exercise
20 guidance in their family's viewing habits;
21 WHEREAS although it ultimately controls what viewers will see, the television industry
22 is quick to point out that what we see is based on viewer and advertiser preferences;
23 WHEREAS parents, working with their children, can guide the viewing habits of the
24 family and take steps necessary to protect their children from television programming that would
25 be harmful for their children to view;
26 WHEREAS technology available through cable television allows parents and guardians
27 to economically and efficiently control and guide television programming for their children; and

1 WHEREAS parents can lead their families in the selection of television programs that meet
2 their entertainment interests and stimulate valuable discussion in an environment safe from
3 unwanted media influences:
4 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah encourage
5 parents to guide the selection of television programs by the members of their family, and to utilize
6 the technologies available through cable television to direct their children's television viewing
7 habits.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to TCI Cable and the
9 Utah Parent Teachers Association.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-9-98 10:43 AM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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