I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3785
To provide for the establishment of the Interactive Entertainment Rating
Commission, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 3, 1994
Mr. LANTOS introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of the Interactive
Entertainment Rating Commission, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND PURPOSE.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Video Game Rating Act of 1994’’.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to provide
parents with information about the nature of video games
which are used in homes or public areas, including arcades
or family entertainment centers.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the terms ‘‘video games’’ and ‘‘video de-
vices’’ mean any interactive computer game, includ-
ing all software, framework and hardware necessary
to operate a game, placed in interstate commerce;
and
(2) the term ‘‘video game industry’’ means all
manufacturers of video games and related products.
SEC. 3. THE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT RATING COM-
MISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the
Interactive Entertainment Rating Commission (hereafter
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’) which shall
be an independent establishment in the executive branch
as defined under section 104 of title 5, United States
Code.
(b) MEMBERS
OF
THE COMMISSION.—(1)(A) The
Commission shall be composed of 5 members. No more
than 3 members shall be affiliated with any 1 political
party.
(B) The members shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The President shall designate 1 member as the Chairman
of the Commission.
(2) All members shall be appointed within 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) TERMS.—Each member shall serve until the ter-
mination of the Commission.
(d) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(e) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—(1) Section 5314
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end thereof the following new item:
‘‘Chairman, Interactive Entertainment Rating Com-
mission.’’.
(2) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new
item:
‘‘Members, Interactive Entertainment Rating Com-
mission.’’.
(3) The amendments made by this subsection are re-
pealed effective on the date of termination of the Commis-
sion.
(f) STAFF.—(1) The Chairman of the Commission
may, without regard to the civil service laws and regula-
tions, appoint and terminate an executive director and
such other additional personnel as may be necessary to
enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employ-
ment of an executive director shall be subject to confirma-
tion by the Commission.
(2) The Chairman of the Commission may fix the
compensation of the executive director and other personnel
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code,
relating to classification of positions and General Schedule
pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive
director and other personnel may not exceed the rate pay-
able for level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of such title.
(g) CONSULTANTS.—The Commission may procure
by contract, to the extent funds are available, the tem-
porary or intermittent services of experts or consultants
under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code. The
Commission shall give public notice of any such contract
before entering into such contract.
(h) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Commission such sums as are necessary to
enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this
Act, such sums to remain available until December 31,
1996.
(i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate
on the earlier of—
(1) December 31, 1996; or