Violent Content Research Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-134
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2013-01-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Games and hobbies
Government studies and investigations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Mental health
Violent crime

Summary:
action_date: 2013-01-24
text: 
Violent Content Research Act of 2013 - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), jointly, to undertake to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of whether there is a connection between exposure to violent video games and programming and harmful effects on children.
 
Requires such investigation to consider whether: (1) such exposure causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children, has a harmful effect on children already prone to aggressive behavior or on other identifiable groups of children, and causes effects distinguishable from other types of media; (2) any identified harm has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being; and (3) current or emerging characteristics of video games have a unique impact on children, considering video games' interactive nature and the personal and vivid way violence might be portrayed in such video games.
 
Requires such agencies, in entering into any such arrangements, to request the NAS to report the results to Congress, FTC, FCC, and HSS.

action_date: 2013-12-17
text: 
Violent Content Research Act of 2013 - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS), jointly, to undertake to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of whether exposure to violent video games and programming has a harmful effect on children that is distinguishable from any other factors.
 
Requires such study and investigation to consider whether: (1) such exposure causes children to act aggressively or causes other measurable harm to children, 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 has a harmful effect that is distinguishable from other types of media; (2) any identified harm has a direct and long-lasting impact on a child's well-being; and (3) current or emerging characteristics of violent video games have a uniquely harmful effect on the behavior of children, considering video games' concretely interactive nature.
 
Requires an identification of gaps in current research which, if closed, could provide information regarding any causal connection between such exposure and children's behavior.
 
Requires such agencies, in entering into any such arrangements, to request the NAS to report the results to Congress, FTC, FCC, and HSS.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-12-17
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 262.
action_date: 2013-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-126.
action_date: 2013-12-17
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-126.
action_date: 2013-07-30
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2013-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S288)
action_date: 2013-01-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S287-288)
action_date: 2013-01-24
text: Introduced in Senate