HF 118

1st Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             memorializing the television networks to actively 
  1.3             reduce the amount of violence-laden, sexually explicit 
  1.4             material on television programs and to produce 
  1.5             television material that promotes wholesome family 
  1.6             values and helps to strengthen all families. 
  1.7      WHEREAS, the television medium has tremendous influence on 
  1.8   society because of the widespread use of television and the 
  1.9   power of visual images; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, it is vital to the well-being of our state and its 
  1.11  communities that citizens be alert to the destructive influences 
  1.12  that threaten the moral and social fabric of our society; and 
  1.13     WHEREAS, there is a prevalence of violent and sexually 
  1.14  explicit material on television programming; and 
  1.15     WHEREAS, the exploitative depiction of men, women, and 
  1.16  children through violence and sexually explicit material 
  1.17  contributes to a rise in the incidence of sexual crimes, violent 
  1.18  assaults, and family breakdowns; and 
  1.19     WHEREAS, there is a liberalized attitude toward divorce on 
  1.20  television programming that encourages the acceptance of divorce 
  1.21  and minimizes the harmful effects of marital dissolution on 
  1.22  children; and 
  1.23     WHEREAS, it is incumbent on the television networks to be 
  1.24  promoters of wholesome family values and thus strengthen our 
  1.25  society; and; 
  1.26     WHEREAS, it is urgent that television networks establish 
  2.1   ethical standards and take responsibility for the content of the 
  2.2   programs and advertisements that are televised; and 
  2.3      WHEREAS, S. 943, the Children's Television Violence 
  2.4   Protection Act of 1993, was heard in the United States Senate 
  2.5   and would have required television and cable broadcasters to 
  2.6   notify viewers through a video and audio warning that certain 
  2.7   programming may contain violence or unsafe gun practices which 
  2.8   may adversely affect the mental and physical health of a child 
  2.9   and if the events occurred in real life, would warrant 
  2.10  imposition of criminal penalties; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.11     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.12  that it urges the television networks to actively reduce the 
  2.13  amount of violence-laden, sexually explicit material on 
  2.14  television programs and to produce television material that 
  2.15  promotes wholesome family values and helps to strengthen all 
  2.16  families. 
  2.17     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.18  that the United States Congress should act on legislation like 
  2.19  that proposed in the Children's Television Violence Protection 
  2.20  Act of 1993. 
  2.21     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.22  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare certified copies of 
  2.23  this memorial and transmit them to the presidents of the 
  2.24  television networks and to the Speaker and Clerk of the United 
  2.25  States House of Representatives and the President and Secretary 
  2.26  of the United States Senate.