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S. 134 (113th): Violent Content Research Act of 2013

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The text of the bill below is as of Dec 17, 2013 (Reported by Senate Committee). The bill was not enacted into law.

II

Calendar No. 262

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 134

[Report No. 113–126]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013

(for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Heller, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Pryor) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

December 17, 2013

Reported by , with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to study the impact of violent video games and violent video programming on children.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Violent Content Research Act of 2013 .

2.

Study; National Academy of Sciences

(a)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services, jointly, shall undertake to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of—

(1)

whether there is a connection between exposure to violent video games and harmful effects on children; and

(2)

whether there is a connection between exposure to violent video programming and harmful effects on children.

(b)

Contents of study and investigation

(1)

Violent video games

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall include—

(A)

whether the exposure listed under subsection (a)(1)—

(i)

causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children;

(ii)

has a disproportionately harmful effect on children already prone to aggressive behavior or on other identifiable groups of children; and

(iii)

has a harmful effect that is distinguishable from any negative effects produced by other types of media;

(B)

whether any harm identified under subparagraph (A)(i) has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being; and

(C)

whether current or emerging characteristics of video games have a unique impact on children, considering in particular video games' interactive nature and the extraordinarily personal and vivid way violence might be portrayed in such video games.

(2)

Violent video programming

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall include—

(A)

whether the exposure listed under subsection (a)(2)—

(i)

causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children;

(ii)

has a disproportionately harmful effect on children already prone to aggressive behavior or on other identifiable groups of children; and

(iii)

has a harmful effect that is distinguishable from any negative effects produced by other types of media; and

(B)

whether any harm identified under subparagraph (A)(i) has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being.

(3)

Future research

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall identify gaps in the current state of research which, if closed, could provide additional information regarding any causal connection—

(A)

between exposure to violent video games and behavior; and

(B)

between exposure to violent video programming and behavior.

(c)

Report

In entering into any arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences for conducting the study and investigation under this section, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services shall request the National Academy of Sciences to submit, not later than 15 months after the date on which such arrangements are completed, a report on the results of the study and investigation to—

(1)

Congress;

(2)

the Federal Trade Commission;

(3)

the Federal Communications Commission; and

(4)

the Department of Health and Human Services.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Violent Content Research Act of 2013 .

2.

Study; National Academy of Sciences

(a)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services, jointly, shall undertake to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of—

(1)

whether there is a connection between exposure to violent video games and harmful effects on children that is distinguishable from the effects of any other factors; and

(2)

whether there is a connection between exposure to violent video programming and harmful effects on children that is distinguishable from the effects of any other factors.

(b)

Contents of study and investigation

(1)

Violent video games

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall include—

(A)

whether the exposure listed under subsection (a)(1)—

(i)

causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children;

(ii)

has a disproportionately harmful effect on the behavior of children already prone to aggression or on the behavior of other identifiable groups of children; and

(iii)

has a harmful effect on children's behavior that is distinguishable from any negative effects produced by other types of media;

(B)

whether any harm identified under subparagraph (A)(i) has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being; and

(C)

whether current or emerging characteristics of violent video games have a uniquely harmful effect on the behavior of children, considering in particular such games' concretely interactive nature.

(2)

Violent video programming

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall include—

(A)

whether the exposure listed under subsection (a)(2)—

(i)

causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children;

(ii)

has a disproportionately harmful effect on the behavior of children already prone to aggression or on the behavior of other identifiable groups of children; and

(iii)

has a harmful effect on children's behavior that is distinguishable from any negative effects produced by other types of media; and

(B)

whether any harm identified under subparagraph (A)(i) has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being.

(3)

Future research

The study and investigation under subsection (a) shall identify gaps in the current state of research which, if closed, could provide information regarding any causal connection—

(A)

between exposure to violent video games and harmful effects on children's behavior; and

(B)

between exposure to violent video programming and harmful effects on children's behavior.

(c)

Report

In entering into any arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences for conducting the study and investigation under this section, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services shall request the National Academy of Sciences to submit, not later than 15 months after the date on which such arrangements are completed, a report on the results of the study and investigation to—

(1)

Congress;

(2)

the Federal Trade Commission;

(3)

the Federal Communications Commission; and

(4)

the Department of Health and Human Services.

December 17, 2013

Reported with an amendment