S.R. 3 Enrolled

RESOLUTION URGING TELEVISION NETWORKS TO AIR
VIOLENT PROGRAMS ONLY LATE AT NIGHT
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Scott N. Howell
A RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE URGING TELEVISION NETWORKS TO LIMIT THE
BROADCASTING OF VIOLENT PROGRAMS TO LATE EVENING HOURS; URGING THE
MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA'S CLASSIFICATION AND RATINGS
ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE MORE RESTRICTIVE RATINGS TO VIOLENT FILMS; AND
URGING PRODUCERS OF VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES THAT ARE VIOLENT TO
SUPPORT RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING ANYONE UNDER 21 FROM PURCHASING
THE GAMES.
Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS, for many years the frequency and severity of violent acts portrayed in the
media, including television programs, motion pictures, and computer and video games, has steadily
increased;
WHEREAS, studies have demonstrated a link between the viewing of violent entertainment
and violent behavior, and express particular concern with the corrosive impact of violent
entertainment on children;
WHEREAS, entertainment rating systems alone have not curbed the exposure of children
to violent entertainment;
WHEREAS, motion picture, television, computer, and video game rating systems provide
parents with useful and important information, but also lure many youth to seek out more
restrictively rated entertainment;
WHEREAS, violence permeates much of televised entertainment and is typically broadcast
at times when it can easily be viewed by children;
WHEREAS, the level of violence in films which do not restrict child attendance has
increased sharply, particularly since the introduction of the PG-13 rating in 1984;
WHEREAS, producers of media containing violence should assume increased responsibility

to limit the exposure of children to its violent entertainment;
WHEREAS, television networks, which voluntarily apply their own ratings, should review
their programs and place a stronger rating on programs depicting violence and limit their broadcast
of those programs to late in the evening;
WHEREAS, the Motion Picture Association of America's Classification and Ratings
Administration should re-examine the rating system and institute a more restrictive standard than is
currently in place to rate films with violent content;
WHEREAS, companies manufacturing and selling computer and video games containing
graphic violence should support a restriction prohibiting anyone under 21 from purchasing the games;
and
WHEREAS, by shielding the nation's youth from violent entertainment, society can begin to
stem its appetite for violent entertainment:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges
television networks to review their programs for violent content and place more restrictive ratings
on violent shows.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges the Motion Picture
Association of America's Classification and Ratings Administration to study the current rating system
and apply a more restrictive standard than is currently in use when rating films with violent content.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges companies
manufacturing and selling computer and video games containing graphic violence to support a
restriction on the sales of the games to individuals 21 years of age or older.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the National
Association of Broadcasters, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Classification and
Ratings Administration, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, Nintendo of America, Inc., the
Sony Corporation, and Sega of America, Inc.

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