SB657: Bill Text

LRB-5080/1

CMH:skw

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 657

January 8, 2020 - Introduced by Senators Jacque, Smith, Olsen, Wirch, Risser, Testin, Schachtner, Bewley and Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Novak, Vruwink, Subeck, Kuglitsch, Petryk, Horlacher, Zimmerman, Steffen, Dittrich, Milroy, Sinicki, Doyle, Ohnstad, Felzkowski, Ballweg, Gruszynski, Skowronski, Fields, Hintz, L. Myers, Kulp, Kitchens, Quinn, Sanfelippo, Stubbs, C. Taylor, Tusler, VanderMeer and Vining. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

SB657,1,2 An Act to create 947.013 (1) (e) and 947.013 (1p) of the statutes; relating to: harassment of a sports official and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person commits harassment and is subject to a Class B forfeiture if the person, with intent to harass or intimidate, strikes, shoves, or kicks another person or if the person engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which harass or intimidate another person and which serve no legitimate purpose. Under this bill, the person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits harassment against a referee, umpire, judge, or person performing similar functions and the harassment is in response to, or intended to influence, an action by the sports official.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB657,1 Section 1. 947.013 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB657,2,2 947.013 (1) (e) “Sports official” means a person who serves as a referee, umpire, linesman, timekeeper, inspector, or judge, or performs similar functions, whether paid or unpaid, at a sporting event open to the public and who is recognizable as a sports official.

SB657,2 Section 2. 947.013 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

SB657,2,10 947.013 (1p) Whoever violates sub. (1m) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the victim is a sports official and the violation is in response to, or intended to influence, an action by the sports official in his or her official capacity. In addition to any other penalties that apply to the crime, the court may impose up to 40 hours of community service work and may require that the actor participate in counseling, including anger management or abusive behavior intervention, at the actor's expense.

SB657,2,11 (End)