Bill > S709

This bill upgrades certain types of assault against sports officials for school- or community-sponsored youth sports events to aggravated assault, which is a more serious crime. It amends the state's assault statute to include sports officials as a protected group, similar to how the law treats assaults against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees. The bill specifies that a "sports official" includes referees, umpires, timers, scorers, coaches, trainers, managers, and assistants, whether paid or volunteer, for these types of youth sports events. The bill also sets the effective date to the first day of the fourth month following enactment.