Committee hears 'referee' bill to increase penalties for school and sports intimidation
SB 52 72 would expand gross‑misdemeanor interference and intimidation offenses to include employees, contractors and volunteers at schools and extracurricular events, raise maximum fines and confinement (up to $1,000 and 364 days), and require exclusion from school activities for 12–18 months; sponsor and community witnesses cited rising abuse of officials and urged passage.
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Lena Langer, counsel to the committee, briefed that engrossed Senate Bill 52 72 expands the offenses of interference by force or violence and intimidation by threat of force or violence to cover employees, contractors, volunteers and students at public and private elementary and secondary schools and extracurricular athletic activities. Langer said the bill raises the maximum fine for interference to $1,000 and increases confinement to up to 364 days; nonstudent offenders would be excluded from the school and participating extracurricular activities for 12 to 18 months.
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