New York - The New York State Senate yesterday passed a bill that would ban the sale of violent video games to minors, GamePolitics.com reported.

The bill is now expected to pass in the State Assembly before heading to the desk of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who initially backed the bill and will likely to sign it into law.

In addition to mandating game rating stickers on all titles sold in New York, the bill would also create an advisory council to review the effectiveness of the game industry's Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) ratings system, and create a parent-teacher anti-violence awareness program.

"Everywhere we look, violence surrounds us and it is unfortunate that our children are exposed to this explicit material, whether found in video games, movies or on television," said New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno.

Over the past six years, none of the nine similar laws banning the sale of violent video games to minors have been upheld by federal courts.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2wurzl (Sen. Bruno statement)

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/05/22/ny-senate-passes-video-game-bill