UPDATE

-On July 1, the bill came up to the full senate and was voted down 17 to 15. You can read about the full story here. It looks like some progress was made and i hope some was made by my page. Here is the email which i sent to the senators of Michigan, out of all 6 of them, I recieved two replies, one which simply said "Thank you." and, from Senator Gary Peters, a form letter which said he was forwarding the letter to his staff. I thought these were two very worthless responses but it turns out that I did get a response from Peters, which is here. Senator Peters was the only senator that voted against the bill initially and was also one of the 17 against it. Visit his page. Well i guess that's it. The fight may not be over yet but at least we won this time. And make sure to support Senator Peters, email him, tell him you admire him for standing his ground and voting against the act. Just let him know that what he is doing is right.

On May 21, 1998, the Senators of Michigan passed a bill on to the full Senate that will allow cities to rate a concerts and prohibit minors from going to concerts that will be considered "offensive". And maybe this doesn't seem much to anyone but look at it, this bill is just one step in breaking an artist's creativity. And if we stand aside and allow this to happen, then soon music will be regulated by government and artists who are considered to be too controversial will not have their music recorded and distrubuted. But we can't blame anyone but ourselves for this. We stand around like morons and complain about being censored but we do nothing about it. The government will push us as far as we let it. If we will stand up and fight against it, then we can stop this. But only if we fight against it. Even though this bill will only affect Michigan at first, it will spread from state to state like a disease spreading over the body. Right now, the best way to fight it is to email the senators and tell them to vote against this bill. If you live in Michigan, then you should and if you don't but know people who do live there, tell them. To find out more information you should go here which can provide you with more information and the email addresses of the senators. Now here's the bill that was passed and is now headed to Senate. stop it now!

SENATE BILL NO. 1100

May 22, 1998, Introduced by Senators SHUGARS, GEAKE and GOUGEON

A bill to restrict the attendance of minors at certain music performances; to regulate the operation of certain music venues; and to prescribe penalties.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Harmful to minors" means any material that meets all of the following requirements:

(i) The average adult person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the material, when considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of minors.

(ii) The material depicts or describes, in an explicit and patently offensive manner by prevailing standards in the adult community with respect to what is suitable for minors, any of the following:

(A) Ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated.

(B) Masturbation, fellatio, cunnilingus, bestiality, excretory functions, lewd exhibition of the genitals or genital area, sexually explicit conduct, sexual excitement, or sexually explicit nudity.

(C) Acts that are violent or destructive, including but not limited to human or animal mutilation, dismemberment, murder, suicide, rape, torture, or illegal use of drugs.

(iii) When considered as a whole, and in the context for which it is used, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

(b) "Minor" means an individual under the age of 18.

(c) "Music venue" means a commercial venue where live music performances are held.

Sec. 2. (1) The governing board of a city, village, or township may, by resolution, determine that a live performance at a music venue within the city, village, or township is harmful to minors. The determination shall be based on the performer's past performances or the performer's recordings. However, the governing board shall not approve a resolution described in this section if the owner or operator of the music venue or the performer submits to the board evidence of a contract between the owner or operator and the performer in which the performer has agreed not to perform any material that is harmful to minors. If the owner or operator of a music venue objects to a resolution approved under this subsection, the owner or operator may demand arbitration rules of the American arbitration association. To initiate arbitration under this subsection, the owner or operator of the music venue shall submit a written notice of his or her intention to arbitrate to the governing board of the city, village, or township and to the American arbitration association not later than 14 business days after the resolution is approved. An arbitration hearing shall be conducted within 10 business days from the date the demand for arbitration is received by the American arbitration association and the decision by the arbitrator shall be issued not later than 10 business days from the date the final hearing concludes. If the city, village, or township approves a resolution under subsection (1) determining the performance is harmful to minors and notifies the owner or operator of the music venue a reasonable time period prior to the date of the performance, the owner or operator of the music venue shall comply with all of the following:

(a) A minor shall not be admitted to the performance unless accompanied and adult not less than 21 years of age.

(b) Tickets that are sold for the performance shall contain a notice on the ticket that minors will not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult not less than 21 years of age.

(c) Print advertisements for the performance shall contain a notice that minors will not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult not less than 21 years of age.

(d) Electronic advertisements shall include a statement that minors will not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult not less than 21 years of age.

Sec. 3. A person who violates this act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

Enacting section 1. This act takes effect upon the expiration of 60 days after the date of its enactment.