An Act relative to criminal harassment against a sports official

This bill creates a new criminal offense specifically for willfully threatening serious bodily injury to sports officials during a game. It applies to any person who directs such threats at referees, umpires, or other officials acting in their official capacity at events ranging from school sports to professional leagues. If convicted of a first offense, an individual could face up to two and a half years in jail or a fine of $1,000, while a second or subsequent offense carries a mandatory prison sentence of five to ten years. The law defines a sports official broadly to include paid and volunteer roles in any organized athletic activity and requires the threat to cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety.