278:1 New Section; Assault and Related Offenses; Harm or Threats to Sports Officials. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 4-a the following new section:

631:4-b Harm or Threats to Sports Officials.

I. In this section:

(a) "Discharge of the sports official's duties" begins at the time the sports official arrives at the field of play or immediate vicinity and ends when the sports official has left the field of play or immediate vicinity.

(b) "Field of play or immediate vicinity" means any field, court, stadium, park, or other venue designated for a sports event, or the parking lot, hallways, spectator areas, or pathways providing access to and from the field, court, stadium, park, or venue.

(c) "Participant" means any person acting as a spectator, coach, administrator, or player at a sports event.

(d) "Sports event" means any organized amateur or professional athletic contest in the state.

(e) "Sports official" means a person at a sports event who enforces the rules of the event, such as an umpire, referee, timer, or scorer, regardless of whether the person is paid or provides his or her services as an unpaid volunteer.

II. Any person who commits first degree assault under RSA 631:1, second degree assault under RSA 631:2, simple assault under RSA 631:2-a, reckless conduct under RSA 631:3, criminal threatening under RSA 631:4, stalking under RSA 633:3-a, criminal mischief under RSA 634:2, or harassment under RSA 644:4, against a sports official engaged in the discharge of the sports official's duties on the field of play or immediate vicinity shall be guilty of the offense of harming or threatening a sports official and subject to the punishment prescribed for the underlying offense.

III. In addition, the court may prohibit any person convicted of an offense under this section from acting as a participant at a sports event within this state for any period of time the court deems reasonable, up to and including life, except that the court shall not prohibit a person from acting as a participant at a sports event for more than 12 months for a first offense. Any person violating such order may, in addition to being held in criminal contempt of court or subject to a probation violation, if applicable, be fined in the amount of $1,000 in any court of competent jurisdiction for each violation of the order.

278:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

Approved: July 26, 2024

Effective Date: January 01, 2025

278:1 New Section; Assault and Related Offenses; Harm or Threats to Sports Officials. Amend RSA 631 by inserting after section 4-a the following new section:

631:4-b Harm or Threats to Sports Officials.

I. In this section:

(a) "Discharge of the sports official's duties" begins at the time the sports official arrives at the field of play or immediate vicinity and ends when the sports official has left the field of play or immediate vicinity.

(b) "Field of play or immediate vicinity" means any field, court, stadium, park, or other venue designated for a sports event, or the parking lot, hallways, spectator areas, or pathways providing access to and from the field, court, stadium, park, or venue.

(c) "Participant" means any person acting as a spectator, coach, administrator, or player at a sports event.

(d) "Sports event" means any organized amateur or professional athletic contest in the state.

(e) "Sports official" means a person at a sports event who enforces the rules of the event, such as an umpire, referee, timer, or scorer, regardless of whether the person is paid or provides his or her services as an unpaid volunteer.

II. Any person who commits first degree assault under RSA 631:1, second degree assault under RSA 631:2, simple assault under RSA 631:2-a, reckless conduct under RSA 631:3, criminal threatening under RSA 631:4, stalking under RSA 633:3-a, criminal mischief under RSA 634:2, or harassment under RSA 644:4, against a sports official engaged in the discharge of the sports official's duties on the field of play or immediate vicinity shall be guilty of the offense of harming or threatening a sports official and subject to the punishment prescribed for the underlying offense.

III. In addition, the court may prohibit any person convicted of an offense under this section from acting as a participant at a sports event within this state for any period of time the court deems reasonable, up to and including life, except that the court shall not prohibit a person from acting as a participant at a sports event for more than 12 months for a first offense. Any person violating such order may, in addition to being held in criminal contempt of court or subject to a probation violation, if applicable, be fined in the amount of $1,000 in any court of competent jurisdiction for each violation of the order.

278:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

Approved: July 26, 2024

Effective Date: January 01, 2025