Committee hears emotional testimony backing 'referees' bill to expand penalties for interfering with school officials and sports officials

The committee received testimony on Engrossed Senate Bill 52 72, sometimes referred to as the "referee's bill," which expands existing offenses for interference by force or intimidation to include employees, contractors, volunteers and extracurricular officials at public and private elementary and secondary schools. The bill increases maximum penalties for interference and adds exclusion periods from schools or activities for convicted non-students.

Lena Langer summarized the bill’s primary changes: it expands covered victims to include school employees, contractors and extracurricular volunteers; increases the maximum fine for interference by force or violence to $1,000 and confinement to up to 364 days; requires exclusion from a facility and from extracurricular activities for 12 to 18 months for non-students convicted of interference; and removes immediate suspension language for students.

Multiple witnesses gave personal testimony about physical attacks and escalating verbal abuse toward officials. Bob West, a long-time referee, recounted a career-ending assault and said the Legislature previously passed a nonbinding House resolution recognizing declines in sportsmanship. Local leaders including Al Merkel (Spokane Valley City Council) and Linda Thompson (Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention) described declines in officiating recruitment and urged the committee to advance the bill.

Ending: Public testimony concluded with broad support from referees, municipal officials and violence-prevention advocates; the committee announced it would take executive action the next day.