SENATE DOCKET, NO. 916        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1327

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James T. Welch

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to zero tolerance for violence and aggression by adults at youth sporting events.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 916        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1327

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1200 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to zero tolerance for violence and aggression by adults at youth sporting events.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This act may be cited as the “Zero Tolerance for Violence at Youth Sporting Events”

SECTION 2. Chapter 22 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 21 the following Section:

Section 22:

Section 1. DEFINITIONS

(a) "Youth sporting event" means any event, including but not limited to games, practices, and scrimmages, sanctioned by a town, school district, county, the Commonwealth, or any other athletic association recognized by the Commonwealth.

(b) "Five regions of the commonwealth" means Boston Metro which includes Suffolk County; East which includes Essex, Middlesex, and Norfolk counties; South which includes Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; Central which includes Worcester county; Western which includes Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire counties

Section 2. COUNCIL AGAINST VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION AT YOUTH ACTIVITIES—COMPOSITION AND DUTIES

(a) There is created within the Department of Public Safety a Council Against Violence and Aggression at Youth Activities (hereafter, the Council) composed of 1 representative from each of the 5 regions in the Commonwealth to be appointed by the Governor for a total of 5 members

i.each representative shall be appointed to a three year term of service

(b) The Council shall

   i. elect a Chair from among the Council members by a simple majority of the Council members

   ii. be voluntary in nature and no member shall receive compensation for his or her participation on the Council

   iii. meet once a month or more frequently if determined necessary by the Chair

   iv. create, administer, and maintain a statewide Code of Conduct to be implemented at youth sporting events

   v. hear complaints of incidents of adult violence and aggression at youth sporting events

   vi. review the evidence of the incidents specified in subsection (b)(v) of this section

   vii. have the discretion and authority to impose a ban on attendance at any and all youth sporting events where a preponderance of the evidence specified in subsection (b)(vi) of this section tends to show acts of violence or aggression at a youth sporting event as defined in section 1 (a) of this chapter

      1. a simple majority of the Council shall be required to impose a ban

      2. the length of the ban shall be within the discretion of the Council

      3. a ban on attendance without conviction of the offense in question shall be within the discretion of the Council

      4. an individual who is banned from youth sporting events shall have the opportunity to appeal the Council’s decision within 15 days of the decision

   viii. conduct a monthly review of the complaints, findings and decisions and compile a report to be delivered to the Department of Public Safety

   ix. establish and maintain a public electronic registry with the name, photo, current address, description of the offense, and location of the offense for individuals who have received a ban as specified in subsection (b)(vii) of this section

      1. funding for the establishment and maintenance of this registry shall be allocated from the increased penalties as specified in the c. 265 §§ 13N, 43B, and 43C.

SECTION 3. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 13M, the following Section:

Section 13N. Assault and battery at a youth sporting event; definitions; penalties

(1) Definition:

   (a) Youth Sporting Event: Any event, including but not limited to games, practices, and scrimmages, sanctioned by a town, school district, county, the Commonwealth, or any other athletic association recognized by the Commonwealth.

(2) Whoever commits an assault or an assault and battery pursuant to c. 265 §13A on another at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in subsection (1)(a) of this section, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 90 days nor more than 2 ½ years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.

SECTION 4. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 43A, the following sections:

Section 43B: Stalking at a youth sporting event; penalties

(1) Whoever engages in stalking pursuant to c. 265 §43 at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in c. 265 §13N(1)  (a), shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 60 days nor more than 5 years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.

Section 43C: Criminal harassment at a youth sporting event; penalties

(1) Whoever commits criminal harassment pursuant to c. 265 §43A at any sanctioned youth sporting event as defined in c. 265 §13N(1)   (a), shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than 30 days nor more than 5 years or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 or both.