[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 231 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 231

To require certain warning labels to be placed on video games that are 
             given certain ratings due to violent content.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 2009

  Mr. Baca (for himself and Mr. Wolf) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require certain warning labels to be placed on video games that are 
             given certain ratings due to violent content.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REGULATION.

    (a) Regulation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall 
promulgate regulations to require the warning label described in 
subsection (b) to be placed on the packaging of any video game that is 
rated T (Teen) or higher by the Electronics Software Ratings Board.
    (b) Warning Label Content.--The warning label required under a 
regulation issued under subsection (a) shall be placed in a clear and 
conspicuous location on the packaging of the applicable video game and 
shall state: ``WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and 
other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.''.
    (c) Video Game Defined.--As used in this Act the term ``video 
game'' means any product, whether distributed electronically or through 
a tangible device, consisting of data, programs routines, instructions, 
applications, symbolic languages, or similar electronic information 
(collectively referred to as ``software'') that controls the operation 
of a computer or telecommunication device and that enables a user to 
interact with a computer controlled virtual environment for 
entertainment purposes.
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