Safe Play Act

HB 5246, the Safe Play Act, increases penalties for assaulting or battering athletic officials during sports events. The bill raises fines for assault to $500-$1,000 and for battery to $1,000-$3,000, replacing lower current penalties. It defines "athletic official" broadly to include umpires, referees, and coaches who enforce rules or supervise participants. This law directly affects offenders convicted of such acts, aiming to protect officials at sporting events.