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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3673 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1753
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jeffrey N. Roy
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act concerning assault of a sports official.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jeffrey N. Roy10th Norfolk1/20/2023Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk2/6/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3673 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1753
By Representative Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1753) of Jeffrey
N. Roy and Bruce J. Ayers relative to assaults upon sports officials. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act concerning assault of a sports official.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding the following section: -
3 Section 13O. (a) As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context
4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 ''Serious bodily injury'', bodily injury which results in a permanent disfigurement,
6protracted loss or impairment of a bodily function, limb or organ, or substantial risk of death.
7 "Sporting event", an organized competitive athletic activity between 2 or more
8individuals.
9 "Sports official", an individual who officially administers or officially assists in
10administering the rules at any sporting event, including, but not limited to, a referee. 2 of 3
11 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who assaults, batters, or
12assaults and batters an individual who performs his or her duties as a sports official immediately
13before, during, or after a sporting event, or at any other time if the assault, battery, or assault and
14battery directly arises from the sports official's execution of his or her duty as a sports official, is
15guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not
16more than $1,000.00, or both.
17 (c) A person who assaults, batters, or assaults and batters an individual who performs his
18or her duties as a sports official immediately before, during, or after a sporting event, or at any
19other time if the assault, battery, or assault and battery arises from the sports official's execution
20of his or her duty as a sports official, causing the individual bodily injury requiring medical
21attention or medical care, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2
22years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
23 (d) A person who assaults, batters, or assaults and batters an individual who performs his
24or her duties as a sports official immediately before, during, or after a sporting event, or at any
25other time if the assault, battery, or assault and battery arises from the sports official's execution
26of his or her duty as a sports official, causing the individual serious impairment of a body
27function, is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of
28not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00, or both.
29 (f) This section does not prohibit a person from being charged with, convicted of, or
30punished for any other violation of law arising out of the same transaction as the violation of this
31section. 3 of 3
32 (g) An entity that owns or operates a facility at which an individual performs duties as a
33sports official shall post a sign in that facility that includes the text of subsections (1) to (3) and,
34if requested by a sports official, shall provide an escort. An entity that violates this subsection is
35responsible for a state civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than
36$500.00.