Bill > A3776

Introduced Session

This bill would upgrade any simple assault committed against a sports official to an aggravated assault, if the assault occurs while the sports official is clearly identifiable as being engaged in the performance of the duties of a sports official or because of the official's status as a sports official. A sports official is defined under the bill as any person who serves "as a referee or umpire, or serves in a similar capacity but may be known by a different title, and is duly registered with or a member of a local, State, regional, or national organization engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials." Any such assault against a sports official would be upgraded to a crime of the third degree, if the official suffers bodily injury. A crime of the third degree is potentially punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. If no bodily injury results from the assault, the act would be upgraded to a crime of the fourth degree. A crime of the fourth degree could be punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The upgrade to either a third degree or fourth degree crime is consistent with the current law's upgrading of simple assaults against other specified officials, officers, and employees, such as law enforcement, firefighters, and public and non-public school personnel. See N.J.S.2C:12-1, subsection b., paragraph (5).

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John Burzichelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 04/05/2018)