Florida Senate Video Game Bill Steams Ahead
Down in the Sunshine State, SB492, video game legislation proposed by State Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R) cleared the Senate's Criminal Justice Committee by an 8-0 vote yesterday.
GamePolitics previously reported that SB492 was being held up by its sponsor pending a federal judge's ruling on the California law, after which the Florida legislation is modeled. With no final decision so far in Calfornia, however, Diaz de la Portilla apparently decided to push ahead.
The senator told the Tallahassee Democrat, "We have an obligation to do everything we can to protect our children" Minors would also be barred from playing violent coin-op games in arcades.
A similar bill in the Florida House of Representatives, HB0647, was discussed by the House Business Regulation Committee last month. Action has been deferred on that measure for now.