H*4635 Concurrent Resolution, By Gamble, Bailey, G. Brown, A.W. Byrd, B.D. Cain, 
Carnell, C.D. Chamblee, Davenport, Harvin, R.J. Herdklotz, Howard, H.G. Hutson, 
Keegan, Kennedy, Lee, Lloyd, Mason, McCraw, J.H. Neal, Rhoad, Rice, Robinson, 
Sandifer, J.S. Shissias, Simrill, Stille, E.C. Stoddard, Stuart, P.H. Thomas, 
Walker, Whatley and W.J. Young
 A Concurrent Resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to
 enact additional provisions of law which will restrain the amount of violence,
 drugs, sex, and inappropriate language and behavior on television which
 reasonably can be expected to be seen by children.

   02/15/96  House  Introduced HJ-15
   02/15/96  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-15
   04/24/96  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-8
   04/25/96  House  Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-90
   04/29/96  Senate Introduced SJ-10
   04/29/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10
   05/08/96  Senate Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-16
   05/09/96  Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence SJ-99

May 8, 1996

H. 4635

Introduced by REPS. Gamble, Mason, Stoddard, Carnell, Neal, G. Brown, Howard, Sandifer, Kennedy, Walker, Bailey, Whatley, Hutson, Stuart, Simrill, Shissias, Lloyd, Byrd, Herdklotz, Thomas, J. Young, Keegan, Stille, Rhoad, Lee, McCraw, Rice, Robinson, Harvin, Cain, Davenport and Chamblee

S. Printed 5/8/96--S.

Read the first time April 29, 1996.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4635), to memorialize the Congress, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

LUKE RANKIN, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS OF LAW WHICH WILL RESTRAIN THE AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE, DRUGS, SEX, AND INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOR ON TELEVISION WHICH REASONABLY CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE SEEN BY CHILDREN.

Whereas, several reputable studies have now shown that the increase in drugs, violence, implicit and explicit sex and sexual innuendo, and vulgar or inappropriate language and behavior in movies and especially on television has adversely affected the behavior and attitudes of children who watch such programs and who have not yet reached their majority; and

Whereas, taken to the extreme, some children have actually tried to duplicate in real life inappropriate and violent behavior that they have seen as drama or fiction on television; and

Whereas, some steps have been taken in the past to try to deal with this problem. The Federal Communications Commission set aside certain times for "children's hour" programming on television, and the recently enacted Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 further attempts to deal with this problem through a series of provisions designed to clean up the type of programming seen by children; and

Whereas, much more needs to be done and under the United States Constitution, Congress and not individual state legislatures is empowered to take such action; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina, by this resolution, call on the Congress to enact comprehensive legislation that through such vehicles as required ratings, voluntary or mandatory standards, and peer and FCC review, will decrease the amount of violence, sex, drugs, and inappropriate language and behavior on television which reasonably can be expected to be seen by children. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of South Carolina hereby memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact additional provisions of law which will restrain the amount of violence, drugs, sex, and inappropriate language and behavior on television which reasonably can be expected to be seen by children.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of South Carolina's congressional delegation.