73R1197 CAE-D By Hirschi H.B. No. 1481 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to an explanation of the rating system on a written 1-3 advertisement for a motion picture; providing a criminal penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Title 6, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding 1-6 Article 179c-1 to read as follows: 1-7 Art. 179c-1. EXPLANATION OF RATING OF MOTION PICTURE 1-8 Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article: 1-9 (1) "Distributor" means a person engaged in the 1-10 business of distributing or supplying more than one motion picture 1-11 film a year to exhibitors by licensing contract, agreement, or 1-12 understanding. 1-13 (2) "Exhibitor" means a person engaged in the business 1-14 of operating one or more theaters in which motion picture films are 1-15 exhibited to the public. 1-16 (3) "Written advertisement" means a commercial message 1-17 in any written medium that directly or indirectly promotes the 1-18 attention of the public to a motion picture. 1-19 Sec. 2. EXPLANATION OF RATING. (a) A distributor or 1-20 exhibitor that displays, publishes, or causes to be displayed or 1-21 published a written advertisement for a motion picture rated by a 1-22 motion picture rating association generally recognized by the 1-23 motion picture industry shall display in the written advertisement 1-24 the rating explanation code assigned to that motion picture. 2-1 (b) The rating explanation required by Subsection (a) of 2-2 this section must be: 2-3 (1) legible; 2-4 (2) located within one-half inch of the rating; and 2-5 (3) at least the same type size as the type size of 2-6 the time of the exhibition if the written advertisement states the 2-7 time of the exhibition of the motion picture. 2-8 Sec. 3. PENALTY. (a) A person who violates a provision of 2-9 this article commits an offense. 2-10 (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 2-11 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993, and 2-12 applies only to a written advertisement published or displayed on 2-13 or after that date. 2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.