S-3959               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6256

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators West, Talmadge, von Reichbauer, Rasmussen, McDonald, McCaslin, Deccio, Nelson, Hayner, Metcalf and Johnson

Read first time 1/15/88 and referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

AN ACT Relating to assaults on sports officials; adding a new section to chapter 9A.36 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 9A.36 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who physically assaults any sports official, at any level of competition, within the confines or immediate vicinity of the athletic facility in which a sports official is an active participant in an athletic contest is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

          (2) As used in this section, "sports official" means an individual who serves as referee, umpire, or linesman, or who serves in a similar capacity but is known by another title, and is duly registered or a member of a local, state, regional, or national organization which is engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.