HF354

Purpose

• To protect youth sports officials by creating clearer, stricter penalties for certain violent or harmful acts aimed at them due to their role.

Main Provisions

• Creates a new subdivision (Subdivision 12) within Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.2231, adding the term “sports official.”
• Defines “sports official” as a person who serves in roles such as umpire, referee, judge, linesperson, timer, scorekeeper, or other similar capacity for a youth athletic activity (as defined in section 121A.38, subdivision 1, paragraph 1e).
• Establishes that a person who commits either of the following acts against a sports official because of the official’s performance is guilty of a gross misdemeanor: 1) assaults the official and inflicts demonstrable bodily harm; or 2) intentionally throws or otherwise transfers bodily fluids or feces at or onto the official.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a specific protection for sports officials by creating a new, targeted offense under the existing assault statute (609.2231), elevating certain misconduct against sports officials to a gross misdemeanor.
• Expands the protections to include a defined list of roles that count as “sports official” and ties these penalties to acts occurring in the context of youth athletic activities.

Relevant Terms - sports official - umpire - referee - judge - linesperson - timer - scorekeeper - youth athletic activity - gross misdemeanor - demonstrable bodily harm - bodily fluids - feces - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.2231 - section 121A.38 subdivision 1 paragraph 1e