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Kansas To Introduce Video Game Bill For Debate
by David Jenkins [PC, Console/PC, Mobile Console]
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February 21, 2006
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A report by website Game Politics indicates that Kansas has become the latest U.S. state to vote on new video games legislation limiting the sale of mature-rated or otherwise 'excessive' games to minors.
Bill HB 2921 was introduced last week by Democrat Jim Ward, and has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee for review. It is part of the Kansas Democratic Party’s Partnership with Families initiative and has been dubbed by them “The Child Protection from Violent Video Games Act”.
The bill calls for it to become a misdemeanor for retailers to distribute M for Mature and AO for Adults Only rated games to minors, with a fine of $1,000 for first offences and up to $2,500 for additional convictions. There is no requirement in the bill to have such games displayed in a separate area, despite suggestions to that effect on the Democratic Party’s website.
Since it is so similar to other bills from various states around the country, it seems unlikely the bill will be ratified on constitutional grounds. This was highlighted yesterday when law experts from the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment submitted an editorial to the Salt Lake City Tribune criticizing Utah’s attempts to limit game sales to minors.
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