2026 -- S 2316

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LC003595

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

     Introduced By: Senators Tikoian, LaMountain, Gallo, Burke, Dimitri, Famiglietti,
Thompson, Raptakis, Appollonio, and Patalano

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-5 of the General Laws entitled "Assaults" is hereby amended by

adding thereto the following section:

     11-5-18. Assault on sports officials.

     (a) For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     (1) “Sports official” means any person who enforces the rules of any sporting event such

as an umpire, referee, linesman, coach or any other participant in regulating or enforcing the rules

of the sporting event.

     (2) “Sporting event” means any interscholastic or intramural athletic activity of any public

or private educational institution, any organized athletic activity sponsored by any community,

business or non-profit organization to include, but not be limited to, any youth sports organization,

any adult league sports organization or any other athletic activity whether semiprofessional or

professional organized athletic activity.

     (3) “Serious bodily injury” means physical injury that:

     (i) Creates a substantial risk of death;

     (ii) Causes protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily part, member or

organ; or

     (iii) Causes serious permanent disfigurement.

     (b)(1) Any person who shall make an assault or battery upon any sports official, while that

sports official is performing their official duties, before, during or after the sporting event, shall be

guilty of a felony and be imprisoned not exceeding three (3) years or fined not exceeding three

thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.

     (2) Any person who shall make an assault or battery upon any sports official while that

sports official is performing their official duties, before, during or after the sporting event, that

results in serious bodily injury, shall be guilty of a felony and be imprisoned for not less than three

(3) years but not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000),

or both.

     (3) Every person convicted pursuant to subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section shall be

ordered to make restitution to the victim of the offense or to perform up to five hundred (500) hours

of public community restitution work or attend violence counseling and/or substance abuse

counseling, or any combination of them imposed by the sentencing judge. The court may not waive

the obligation to make restitution and/or public community restitution work. The restitution and/or

public community restitution work shall be in addition to any fine or sentence which may be

imposed and not in lieu of the fine or sentence.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

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     This act would make an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their

official duties a felony.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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