H-4122              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2913

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Betrozoff, Brumsickle and Silver

Read first time 1/24/90 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to sports officials; adding a new chapter to Title 9 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Sports officials who officiate athletic contests at any level of competition in this state shall not be liable to any person or entity in any civil action for injuries or damages claimed to have arisen by virtue of actions or inactions related in any manner to officiating duties within the confines of the athletic facility at which the athletic contest is played.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     "Sports officials" means those individuals who serve as referees, umpires, linesmen, and those who serve in similar capacities but may be known by other titles and are duly registered or members of a local, state, regional, or national organization engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This chapter does not grant the protection set forth in section 1 of this act to sports officials who cause injury or damage to a person or entity by actions or inactions that are intentional, willful, wanton, reckless, malicious, or grossly negligent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Any person who physically assaults any sports official at any level of competition, within the confines or immediate vicinity of the athletic facility at which the athletic contest in which a sports official was an active participant shall be guilty of a crime punishable by a fine of ten thousand dollars or imprisonment to a maximum of three years, or both.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 9 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.