This bill establishes legal protections for sports officials in Iowa by limiting their civil liability for injuries or damages that arise from their officiating duties during athletic contests. Specifically, it states that sports officials will not be held liable in civil actions for incidents occurring within the athletic facility, except in cases where their actions are intentional, malicious, or grossly negligent. The bill also defines a sports official and includes provisions for the applicability of these protections to legal actions initiated after the bill's enactment, even if the alleged actions occurred prior to that date.

Additionally, the bill introduces criminal penalties for assaults against sports officials. It classifies assaults against sports officials, when the assailant is aware of the official's status, as a class D felony if the intent is to inflict serious injury or if a dangerous weapon is used. Other forms of assault against sports officials are categorized as aggravated misdemeanors or serious misdemeanors, depending on the severity of the injury caused. The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting sports officials and ensuring their safety while performing their duties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 708.3A