AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS (Makes an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their official duties a felony.)

H7549

2026 -- H 7549
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LC004718
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

Introduced By:
Representatives Noret, Read, Shanley, Casey, Dawson, Biah, Cotter,
Corvese, McNamara, and O'Brien

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 11-5 of the General Laws entitled "Assaults" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following section:
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11-5-18. Assault on sports officials.

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(a) For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) “Sports official” means any person who enforces the rules of any sporting event such
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as an umpire, referee, linesman, coach or any other participant in regulating or enforcing the rules
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of the sporting event.
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(2) “Sporting event” means any interscholastic or intramural athletic activity of any public
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or private educational institution, any organized athletic activity sponsored by any community,
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business or non-profit organization to include, but not be limited to, any youth sports organization,
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any adult league sports organization or any other athletic activity whether semiprofessional or
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professional organized athletic activity.
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(3) “Serious bodily injury” means physical injury that:
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(i) Creates a substantial risk of death;
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(ii) Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part, member or
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organ; or
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(iii) Causes serious permanent disfigurement.
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(b)(1) Any person who shall make an assault or battery upon any sports official, while that
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sports official is performing their official duties, before, during or after the sporting event, shall be

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guilty of a felony and be imprisoned not exceeding three (3) years or fined not exceeding three
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thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.
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(2) Any person who shall make an assault or battery upon any sports official while that
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sports official is performing their official duties, before, during or after the sporting event, that
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results in serious bodily injury, shall be guilty of a felony and be imprisoned for not less than three
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(3) years but not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000),
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or both.
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(3) Every person convicted pursuant to subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section shall be
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ordered to make restitution to the victim of the offense or to perform up to five hundred (500) hours
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of public community restitution work or attend violence counseling and/or substance abuse
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counseling, or any combination of them imposed by the sentencing judge. The court may not waive
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the obligation to make restitution and/or public community restitution work. The restitution and/or
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public community restitution work shall be in addition to any fine or sentence which may be
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imposed and not in lieu of the fine or sentence.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS
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This act would make an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their
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official duties a felony.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004718
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