Texas Sports Officials Protection Law Passes First Hurdle

AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas House has approved a bill to protect sports officials at all levels of competition from threats and assaults.

The measure passed Thursday would make it a Class B misdemeanor to threaten or commit minor assault against a sports official during a sporting event or in retaliation for what the official did on the field.

The maximum punishment for a Class B misdemeanor is up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

Under existing law, sports officials are no different from anyone else, and threats and assaults that don't cause bodily harm are considered a

Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine.

The bill by Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, now goes to the Senate.

It is intended to protect more than 15,000 sports officials in Texas who are growing more worried about their safety.

Delisi said she sponsored the bill after witnessing an altercation at a high school game.

A companion bill by Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, would also cover athletes, coaches, administrators and staff members in addition to sports officials.

Delisi and Harris say they aren't trying to criminalize on-field altercations like bench-clearing brawls or hockey fights, or to send people to jail for screaming at an umpire from the stands.

"I think (the bill) sends a message that we've got to have better decorum at these events," Delisi said in Friday's editions of the Austin American-Statesman.

Sports officials say they welcome the help.

"The abuse has turned from the occasional verbal abuse from the crowd to physical confrontations during and after the game," said Tom Panger, football president for the Texas Association of Sports Officials. "It is not so much a problem with coaches and players, as it is with the parents or family members of the student athlete."

Texas sports officials also say they are having trouble finding enough officials who will accept the low pay and constant abuse that seems to come with the job.

The sports official assault bills are HB 716 and SB 1919.

NASO members in Texas are urged to call their state senators and voice support!