This bill proposes to amend New Jersey's assault laws by upgrading simple assaults committed against sports officials during school- or community-sponsored youth sports events to aggravated assault. The new legal language specifies that a person commits aggravated assault if they are clearly identifiable as a sports official or acting in that capacity. The bill defines a sports official broadly to include referees, umpires, timers, scorers, coaches, athletic trainers, managers, and assistants, regardless of whether they are compensated or volunteer.

Under current law, assaults against sports officials are classified as disorderly persons offenses. The bill changes this classification to aggravated assault, which carries more severe penalties: a crime of the fourth degree if no bodily injury occurs, and a crime of the third degree if bodily injury does occur. The penalties for these crimes include potential imprisonment and fines significantly higher than those for disorderly persons offenses. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the fourth month following its enactment.