The Ohio House has passed a bipartisan bill that increases penalties on people who are convicted of assaulting sports officials.
Republican Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) said youth soccer coaches have told him they have a problem.
“They said soccer games are being cancelled because there’s no officials to officiate and they said over 70% of new officials quit within three years, mostly citing spectator abuse," Roemer said.
Roemer’s bill, co-sponsored by Democrat Joe Miller (D-Amherst), would punish first time offenders with a fine of up to $1,500 and 40 hours of community service. Subsequent offenses could be fifth-degree felonies that could result in prison time.
The bill passed overwhelmingly and now moves to the Ohio Senate.
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