HB1496

House Bill 1496 amends Arkansas Code § 5-13-209 regarding the abuse of athletic contest officials. The bill restructures the legal definitions of such abuse, creating specific categories based on the intent and the severity of the injury caused. It categorizes the offense of causing serious physical injury with the purpose of causing serious physical injury as a Class B felony, and causing serious physical injury with the purpose of causing physical injury as a Class C felony. Additionally, it classifies the act of causing physical injury with the purpose of causing physical injury as a Class A misdemeanor, subject to a mandatory minimum fine of $2,500. Finally, the bill maintains that creating apprehension of imminent physical injury to an athletic contest official constitutes a Class A misdemeanor. The legislation applies to officials at interscholastic, intercollegiate, and other organized amateur or professional athletic contests.