Reprinted

February 28, 2001





HOUSE BILL No. 1649

_____


DIGEST OF HB 1649 (Updated February 27, 2001 10:47 AM - DI 98)



Citations Affected: IC 35-46.

Synopsis: Restrictions on violent video games. Requires a minor to be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian when operating an amusement machine harmful to minors. Requires an establishment that possesses amusement machines harmful to minors to conspicuously post signs on each machine that state that minors may not operate the machine unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian. Requires an establishment to separate by at least ten feet amusement machines harmful to minors from other amusement machines, pinball machines, pool or billiard tables, or bowling machines or alleys. Requires an establishment that possesses amusement machines harmful to minors to conspicuously post signs that state that minors subject to
(Continued next page)

Effective: July 1, 2003.





Summers, Alderman, Smith V, Crawford , Kruse




    January 17, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
    February 13, 2001, reassigned to Committee on Human Affairs.
    February 20, 2001, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
    February 27, 2001, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.





Digest Continued

compulsory school attendance may not be in the establishment on a school day after 7 a.m. and before 3:30 p.m. Requires an establishment that possesses amusement machines harmful to minors to prohibit minors subject to compulsory school attendance to be in the establishment on a school day after 7 a.m. and before 3:30 p.m. Makes a violation of this law by an establishment that possesses an amusement machine harmful to minors a Class B infraction and includes civil penalties that increase for repeat offenses that occur within 90 days. Establishes a defense if a minor presents a false driver's license or identification card that states the age of the minor is sufficient to allow the minor to operate an amusement machine harmful to minors without being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian. Provides that a minor who presents false information to an establishment for the purpose of operating an amusement machine harmful to minors without being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian commits a Class B infraction. Provides that a person who represents that the person is a parent, guardian, or custodian of a minor for the purpose of allowing the minor to operate an amusement machine harmful to minors commits a Class B infraction. Specifies that certain licensed areas, private industrial or office locations, private clubs, or riverboats are not covered by the requirements of this law.



Reprinted

February 28, 2001

First Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2001)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1649



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 35-46-7; (01)HB1649.2.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 35-46-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003]:
     Chapter 7. Amusement Machines
    Sec. 1. This chapter does not apply to the following establishments:
        (1) The part of a licensed premises (as defined in IC 7.1-1-3-20) in which entry is limited to persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age.
        (2) Private industrial or office locations that are customarily accessible only to persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age.
        (3) Private clubs if the membership is limited to persons who are at least eighteen (18) years of age.
        (4) Riverboats on which lawful gambling is authorized if entry

is limited to persons who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age.
    Sec. 2. (a) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
    (b) "Accompanied" means a parent, guardian, or custodian:
        (1) is within five (5) feet of the minor at all times while the minor is operating an amusement machine harmful to minors; or
        (2) has appeared in person with the minor at the establishment where an amusement machine harmful to minors is located and on that day has given permission for the minor to operate the amusement machine:
            (A) to the owner of the establishment where the amusement machine harmful to minors is located;
            (B) to an agent of the owner; or
            (C) to an employee of the owner.
    (c) "Amusement machine" means a video game or other electronic device offered to the public as a game or amusement that requires currency, tokens, cards, or tickets and awards points based on the skill of the operator.
    (d) "Harmful to minors" refers to an amusement machine that:
        (1) predominantly appeals to:
            (A) minors' morbid interest in violence; or
            (B) minors' prurient interest in sex;
        (2) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for persons less than eighteen (18) years of age;
        (3) lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as a whole for persons less than eighteen (18) years of age; and
        (4) contains:
            (A) graphic violence; or
            (B) strong sexual content.
    (e) "Graphic violence" means an amusement machine's visual depiction or representation of realistic serious injury to a human or human-like being, including amputation, decapitation, dismemberment, bloodshed, mutilation, maiming, or disfiguration.
    (f) "Strong sexual content" means the visual depiction or representation by an amusement machine of nudity (as defined in IC 35-49-1-5) or sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-49-1-9) by a human or human-like being.
    (g) "Minor" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-49-1-4.


    Sec. 3. (a) An establishment that owns or possesses an amusement machine harmful to minors shall do the following:
        (1) Require a minor in the establishment to be accompanied by a:
            (A) parent;
            (B) guardian (as defined in IC 29-3-1-6); or
            (C) custodian (as defined in IC 35-42-4-7);
        if the minor is operating an amusement machine harmful to minors.
        (2) Place a conspicuous sign on each amusement machine harmful to minors stating that the amusement machine may not be operated by a minor unless the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian.
        (3) Separate by at least ten (10) feet all amusement machines harmful to minors from:
            (A) amusement machines not harmful to minors;
            (B) pool or billiard tables;
            (C) pinball machines; or
            (D) bowling machines or alleys.
        (4) Prohibit a minor who is subject to compulsory school attendance laws as set forth in IC 20-8.1-3-17 from being present in the establishment on a day that school is in session:
            (A) any time after 7 a.m.; and
            (B) any time before 3:30 p.m.;
        unless the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian.
        (5) Place a conspicuous sign inside the establishment that informs minors subject to compulsory school attendance laws as set forth in IC 20-8.1-3-17 of the requirements set forth in subdivision (4).
        (6) If the establishment owns or possesses more than four (4) amusement machines, place a nontransferable, clearly visible designation on the minor indicating that the parent, guardian, or custodian has consented to allow the minor to operate an amusement machine harmful to minors if the parent, guardian, or custodian has appeared in person at the establishment and given permission for the minor to operate the amusement machine.
    (b) The following defenses are available to establishments accused of violating this chapter:
        (1) The minor produced a driver's license bearing the minor's photograph at the establishment where the amusement

machine harmful to minors is located to:
            (A) the owner of the establishment;
            (B) an agent of the owner; or
            (C) an employee of the owner;
        that indicated the minor was of legal age to operate the amusement machine harmful to minors.
        (2) The minor produced an identification card issued under IC 9-24-16-1 that indicated the minor was of legal age to operate the amusement machine harmful to minors.

     Sec. 4. (a) An establishment that violates this chapter commits a Class B infraction. Notwithstanding IC 34-28-5-4(b), a civil judgment for an infraction committed under this chapter must be imposed as follows:
        (1) If the establishment has not been issued a citation or summons for a violation of this chapter in the previous ninety (90) days, a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50).
        (2) If the establishment has had one (1) citation or summons issued for a violation of this chapter in the previous ninety (90) days, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100).

         (3) If the establishment has had two (2) citations or summonses issued for a violation of this chapter in the previous ninety (90) days, a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
        (4) If the establishment has had at least three (3) citations or summonses issued for a violation of this chapter in the previous ninety (90) days, a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500).

     (b) If an establishment is issued a citation under a subdivision of section 3(a) of this chapter, the establishment may not be cited for a violation of the same subdivision within fourteen (14) days of the date of the original citation.
     Sec. 5. A minor who presents false information to an establishment for the purpose of operating an amusement machine harmful to minors without being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or custodian commits a Class B infraction.
     Sec. 6. A person who is not the parent, guardian, or custodian of a minor who represents that the person is:
        (1) a parent;
        (2) a guardian; or
        (3) a custodian;
of the minor for the purpose of allowing the minor to operate an amusement machine harmful to minors commits a Class B

infraction.
     Sec. 7. This chapter does not preempt an ordinance, a bylaw, or a rule, or any amendment to an ordinance, bylaw, or rule, adopted by:
        (1) a county;
        (2) a city;
        (3) a township;
        (4) a department, a board, or an agency of a:
            (A) county;
            (B) city; or
            (C) township; or
        (5) any other political subdivision or agency of the state;
concerning regulation of an amusement machine harmful to minors that was enacted, promulgated, or adopted before the effective date of this chapter.