SRC-LBB H.B. 716 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 716 By: Delisi (Harris) Criminal Justice 5/18/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In recent years, sports officials, including referees and coaches, have increasingly become targets of violent acts. Despite the fact that their official position often puts them in compromising positions, they are afforded few protections under Texas law. H.B. 716 raises the level of a crime against a sports official from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 22.01(c) and (e), Penal Code, as follows: (c) Provides that an offense under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is: (1) a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is, rather than was, committed under Subsection (a)(3) against an elderly individual or disabled individual, as those terms are defined by Section 22.04; or (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the offense is committed against a person the actor knows is a sports official either: (A) while the official is performing duties in the official's capacity as a sports official; or (B) in retaliation for or on account of the official's performance of a duty within the official's capacity as a sports official. (e) Defines "sports official." SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2003.