Bill to Protect Sports Officials Gains Renewed Legislative Support

Bills LRB 1335/1 and LRB 1606/1, to create a state statute, has received support in the assembly from Rep. Todd Novak and Rep. Alex Dallman, and in the senate from Sen. Joan Ballweg and Sen. Andre Jacque.

An identical bill was introduced near the end of last session as 2019 AB 735/SB 657 and has been reintroduced at the request of the WIAA, National Association of Sport Officials and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The proposal is also supported by the Wisconsin Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) and the Wisconsin Soccer Referee Development Program.

Currently, it is a Class B forfeiture if an individual harasses, intimidates, strikes, shoves or kicks another individual, or if the individual engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits harassing or intimidating behavior with no legitimate purpose. Bills LRB-1335/1 and LRB-1606/1 create a new crime for harassment and intimidation of a sports official and revises the existing penalty. Statistics from the NASO Legislation Scorecard indicate 13 percent of sport officials have been assaulted by either a fan, coach or player.

The bill proposes a penalty as a Class A misdemeanor, which can carry a fine up to $10,000, up to nine months in prison, or both. The bill also allows judges to impose up to 40 hours of community service work or counseling, including anger management or abusive behavior intervention at the violator’s expense.

There are 24 states that have assault legislation, civil statutes or supportive resolutions protecting sport officials. Nearly 48 percent of male officials and 45 percent of female officials have responded in a survey that they have felt unsafe or feared for their safety in connection with involvement in officiating.

The decline in the numbers of high school sports officials continues at a concerning rate, and the recruiting and retaining of officials is made more difficult by the lack of sportsmanship at interscholastic and youth events. Fifty-seven percent of officials believe sportsmanship is getting worse, and they identify parents, coaches and fans as the cause of most sportsmanship issues. Surveys also indicate 43 percent of officials state that most new officials quit within the first one-to-three years.

The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 515 senior high schools and 48 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.