Variety reports that four state legislatures are considering criminal penalties for allowing anyone under the age of 17 access to 'R-rated' films.  In Massachusetts, a bill introduced by Rep. Brad Hill includes stores that offer video products (both rental and sell-through) as well as theaters.   A report by the Federal Trade Commission, which came out last year and was highly critical of the motion picture industry's marketing of 'R-rated' films on television programs watched by large numbers of under 17 viewers, has evidently spurred some state lawmakers to want to inflict criminal penalties on those who, knowingly or unknowingly allow youngsters under 17 access to 'R-rated' films. 

So far Arkansas and Utah have voted down these attempts to criminalize the rating system, and the Massachusetts legislation is given little chance of passage, but the Virginia Legislature has passed a law making it a Class 1 Misdemeanor to sell a movie ticket to certain films to anyone under 17.  Fortunately for theater owners in Virginia, the law's ambiguous reference to movies that are 'harmful' to juveniles will make it very difficult to enforce.  Since the MPAA rating system is voluntary on the part of the Motion Picture industry, it would appear difficult for the state to apply legal strictures to those who fail to exclude minors from 'R' films.  But some legislators are clearly interested in compelling enforcement of the MPAA rating system.