Summary
New Jersey Senate Bill 2715 would require the Department of Education to make available information on how a parent can limit a child’s exposure to electronic media with violent images or themes. The bill requires the Department of Education to refer to specific research and statistics about media effects. This information is incomplete and one-sided and could prevent the Department from presenting accurate information to New Jersey parents.
Status
The bill was substituted for its companion bill, A.B. 4094. Gov. Chris Christie signed the bill into law.
Analysis
The legislation offers several conclusions about the effects of media with violent themes or images on consumers of such media. These conclusions are based on research that does not hold up under independent review and is not supported by real world evidence of violence. They also ignore dissenting social science. Many academics and criminologists strongly contest the conclusion that there is any meaningful connection between the media and actual violence.
For more information, see Media Coalition’s report, Only A Game: Why Censoring New Media Won’t Stop Gun Violence.
History
- On April 25, 2013, the bill was introduced [3] and referred to the Senate Committee on Law and Public Safety.
- Media Coalition submitted a memo [2] to the members of the committee, explaining the constitutional issues with the bill.
- The committee recommended the bill be passed. The bill was re-referred to the Senate Committee on Budget and Appropriations.
- Media Coalition submitted a memo [1] to the members of the committee, explaining the constitutional issues with the bill.
- The committee recommended the bill be passed. On May 13, 2013, the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 36-0. The bill was sent to the Assembly and referred to the Assembly Committee on Law and Public Safety.
- The bill was re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Budget. The committee recommended the bill be passed on June 17, 2013.
- On June 24, 2013, the bill was substituted with Assembly Bill 4094. A.B. 4094 passed both the Assembly and the Senate. A.B. 4094 is similar to S.B. 2715.
- Gov. Chris Christie signed A.B. 4094 into law.