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HCR032...............................by JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION
SPORTS OFFICIALS - ASSAULT - Stating findings of the legislature; urging a
public awareness on the problem of assaults on sports officials; and urging
all school districts, little league programs, high school, college and
recreational programs, along with law enforcement and prosecutors, to take
steps necessary to reduce the incidence of violence on sports officials and
to prosecute violators to the full extent of the law.
03/08 House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/09 Rpt prt - to 2nd rdg
03/12 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/13 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote - to Senate
03/14 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Jud
03/20 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
03/21 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
To enrol
03/22 Rpt enrol - Sp signed - Pres signed
To Secretary of State
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session - 2001
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32
BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 PROVIDING FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO FOCUS PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE PROBLEM
3 OF ASSAULTS ON SPORTS OFFICIALS AND URGING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LITTLE LEAGUE
4 PROGRAMS, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH LAW
5 ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS, TO TAKE STEPS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE INCI-
6 DENCE OF VIOLENCE ON SPORTS OFFICIALS AND TO PROSECUTE VIOLATORS TO THE
7 FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
8 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
9 WHEREAS, sports participation has become a part of American life,
10 ingrained into the consciousness of society;
11 WHEREAS, sporting events have components essential to their survival
12 including the players, coaches and fans. In addition, and in some sense most
13 importantly, there must be officials to enforce the rules of the game and
14 judge potential disputes between participants on the field;
15 WHEREAS, many officials volunteer their time or receive only minimal com-
16 pensation. Many officials participate out of a sheer love of the game and to
17 teach children who play the game the valuable lessons that can be learned
18 through participating in sports. These lessons include that of sportsmanship,
19 working as a team and working within the rules of the game to achieve a common
20 goal;
21 WHEREAS, sports officials act as on-field judges for their respective
22 sports and as neutral participants who have no stake in the outcome of the
23 game. Officials should be afforded protection from assaults and other negative
24 reactions by participants, coaches and fans;
25 WHEREAS, increasingly, sports officials are subjected to verbal and even
26 physical assault by disgruntled fans as well as certain coaches and players.
27 This trend follows a growing trend in recent years that, at its foundation,
28 shows a lack of respect for authority figures;
29 WHEREAS, children are exposed to media displays of professional sports
30 heroes and are compelled to emulate their heroes. Unfortunately, children may
31 also try to emulate them when they act in a negative fashion. If professional
32 athletes are not reprimanded for assaultive behavior against sports officials
33 this gives children the impression that verbally and physically assaulting
34 officials is socially acceptable;
35 WHEREAS, it is not enough that each state must wait for one of its sports
36 officials to be seriously attacked or beaten before its government takes
37 action to stop this practice. Players, fans and coaches should be deterred
38 from assaulting officials by local authorities handing out more severe penal-
39 ties. This would ensure that the fans, especially young children, realize that
40 it is not acceptable to attack an official;
41 WHEREAS, the sports officials that give their time and energy to officiate
42 games deserve our collective respect and must have complete confidence that
43 they will be able to carry out their responsibilities in a safe environment.
44 As a society, we must act on the belief that respect for authority, whether
2
1 you agree with it or not, is critical to living, working and playing together.
2 Sports need to be a beacon, highlighting positive accomplishments and the need
3 for sportsmanship and fair play. Although education continues to be important,
4 recent trends point out the need for strong sanctions against those who engage
5 in bad behavior at sporting events.
6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session
7 of the Fifty-sixth Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and the
8 Senate concurring therein, calling on all school districts, little league pro-
9 grams, high school, college and recreational programs, along with law enforce-
10 ment and prosecutors, to do all they can to put an end to the increased
11 threats and batteries on sports officials and to prosecute violators to the
12 full extent of the law.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS ll238C1
The purpose of this resolution is to focus public awareness on
the problem of assaults on sports officials, to encourage steps
to reduce these assaults and to prosecute violators rigorously.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
Contact
Name: Rep. David Bieter
Phone: 332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE HCR 32
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