Da Hawaii state Legislature wen just pass one bill dat make assaultin’ sports officials one second-degree felony. Dis bill includes referees, umpires, an’ odda athletic officials. If Gov. Josh Green give da ok, any person found guilty fo’ intentionally o’ knowingly causing bodily harm to one sports official goin’ get barred from goin’ to any sports event da victim was part of fo’ up to 12 months o’ fo’ life if dis stay da second o’ mo’ serious offense. ??♂️
House Bill 264 wen change Hawaii’s existing laws about assaulting first responders, educators, prison guards, an’ oddas fo’ add new rules fo’ sports officials. Da bill get plenny support, wit high school athletes an’ referees coming out fo’ testify dat dey wen see more an’ mo’ verbal abuse an’ physical attacks by Hawaii fans, an’ even coaches, while high schools an’ recreational leagues struggle fo’ attract officials. Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi wen write to support HB 264, an’ wen say dat “There is a nationwide crisis concerning a shortage of high school officials. Hawaii is not immune to this crisis.” ??
Da President of da Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association, Thomas Yoshida, wen write dat he was workin’ one game in 2006 wen one spectator “came off the stands, on to the floor an’ hit da official. Dat spectator was subsequently arrested but was not convicted of dis crime. Da assaulted official is no longer working any games an’ soon left da islands fo’ da mainland.” ??
Mark Massey, one wrestling official fo’ 22 years, wen write in testimony dat he wen “get physically struck by one parent, followed to my vehicle an’ threatened,” an’ wen see odda officials attacked, including two who wen get attacked by coaches. Ahryanna McGuirk, one volleyball player at Kalaheo High School, wen write in testimony dat ova da years, she wen see “acts of abuse towards da sports officials who referee games from da elementary to collegiate levels.” ??
Da bill was opposed by da state Office of Public Defender, which wen write in testimony: “Da Office of da Public Defender has consistently opposed da creation of special victim classes dat elevate criminal liability.” But da support was overwhelming. Parker Bode, captain of da Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, wen write in testimony dat sports officials “are tasked wit making split-second decisions in objectively judging contests. Consequently, dey should perform their difficult duties without fear of injury. Dis bill serves as one deterrent an’ message dat assaults against sports officials will not be tolerated.” ??♂️
Dis bill could deter unruly spectators an’ fans from behaving negatively, an’ let student-athletes continue to have one positive athletic experience. There has been one nationwide crisis concerning a shortage of high school officials, an’ Hawaii is not immune to dis crisis. Wit da passage of dis bill, we hope dat negative behavior from spectators an’ fans goin’ go down an’ provide one safe environment fo’ everyone involved in sports events. ??
NOW IN ENGLISH
??? Referee Attacks Could Result in Felony Charges, Hawaii Legislature Decides
The state Legislature in Hawaii has recently passed a bill that makes assaulting sports officials a second-degree felony assault. This bill includes referees, umpires, and other athletic officials. If this bill is signed into law by Governor Josh Green, any individual convicted of intentionally or knowingly causing bodily harm to a sports official can be barred from attending any sports event their victims were involved in for up to 12 months or life for a second or subsequent offense. ??♂️
House Bill 264 amends Hawaii’s existing laws regarding assaults on first responders, educators, prison guards, and others to include new language for sports officials. The bill has been widely supported, with high school athletes and referees testifying that they have witnessed escalating verbal abuse and physical attacks by Hawaii fans and even by coaches while high schools and recreational leagues struggle to attract officials. Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi wrote in support of HB 264, stating that “There is a nationwide crisis concerning a shortage of high school officials. Hawaii is not immune to this crisis.” ??
The Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association’s President, Thomas Yoshida, wrote that he was working a game in 2006 when a spectator “came off the stands, on to the floor and hit the official. That spectator was subsequently arrested but was not convicted of this crime. The assaulted official is no longer working any games and soon left the islands for the mainland.” ??
Mark Massey, a wrestling official for 22 years, wrote in testimony that he has “been physically struck by a parent, followed to my vehicle and threatened,” and witnessed other officials assaulted, including two who were attacked by coaches. Ahryanna McGuirk, a volleyball player at Kalaheo High School, wrote in testimony that over the years, she has witnessed “acts of abuse towards the sports officials who referee games from the elementary to collegiate levels.” ??
The bill was opposed by the state Office of Public Defender, which wrote in testimony: “The Office of the Public Defender has consistently opposed the creation of special victim classes that elevate criminal liability.” However, support was overwhelming. Parker Bode, captain of the Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, wrote in testimony that sports officials “are tasked with making split-second decisions in objectively judging contests. Consequently, they should perform their difficult duties without fear of injury. This bill serves as a deterrent and message that assaults against sports officials will not be tolerated.” ??♂️
This bill could deter unruly spectators and fans from behaving negatively, allowing student-athletes to continue to have a positive athletic experience. There has been a nationwide crisis concerning a shortage of high school officials, and Hawaii is not immune to this crisis. With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that negative behavior from spectators and fans will decrease and provide a safe environment for everyone involved in sports events. ??
