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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 11, 2013 01:46 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Sean Wiley |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legal Protection for Athletes and Sporting Officials |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a bill that would expand legal protection for sports officials and athletes who are assaulted during the course of a sporting event. After spending more than a decade as a referee both in the high school basketball arena and the NCAA, I have seen unfortunate, unnecessary actions occur. My sentiments are with the athletes, coaches and officials who make these games possible. As State Senator, I would like to continue supporting our athletic programs by providing safe, fair, and fun sporting events. I hope to do that by ensuring our criminal laws adequately protect athletes and sports officials against physical assault committed by fans or others due to their participation in sporting events. I will be introducing a bill that will clarify the intent of Title 18 subsection 2712, regarding the assault of a sports official. In its current form, the provision does not apply to athletes involved in a sporting event. My proposed legislation defines a “sporting event” as an organized athletic competition including interscholastic, intercollegiate, semiprofessional and professional athletic competition. It clarifies and expands the definition of “sports official” as an individual at a sporting event who: enforces the rules, supervises the participants, serves as an officer or employee of the sponsoring entity, or serves as an officer or employee of an educational institution participating in the sporting event. The bill also defines an “athlete” as an individual competing in a sporting event. Under current law, a person who violates section 2712 (relating to the assault of a sports official) can be charged with a first degree misdemeanor. The legislation I am proposing would not change that penalty. Please join me in ensuring a fun, safe sporting environment for our schools and professional teams by co-sponsoring this piece of legislation. If you have any questions regarding this bill, please contact Michael Thomas at (717) 787-8927 or mthomas@pasenate.com. |
Introduced as SB925