Posted: | January 24, 2020 03:11 PM |
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From: | Representative Anita Astorino Kulik |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Harassment of a Sports Official |
Sports officials, such as umpires and referees, are essential to the sporting events thousands of families attend each year in Pennsylvania. Regardless of the sport, a sports official’s job is a highly stressful one. This is due in no small part to the split-second, often contentious rulings they are required to make. These calls sometimes result in strong disagreement expressed by players, coaches, and spectators. Currently, sports officials are protected only in cases involving assault. I believe this protection should be extended to include harassment. Sports officials should be able to perform their duties without threats of personal injury, administrative hearings or litigation because of their game calls. This is why I am introducing legislation that would create the separate offense of harassment of a sports official. This legislation would apply to sports officials throughout the state and protect them from harassment that arises as a result of them doing their job. Please join me in protecting our sports officials from harassment by co-sponsoring this legislation. |