HB3371 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 24845 SPS 51178 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3371

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Dave Vella

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 605/605-1110 new

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Youth Sports Referee Program to provide improved compensation and protections to referees employed by youth sports leagues. Provides that the Program shall: (1) develop standards that protect referees by authorizing them to eject disruptive spectators, including parents, from the premises of a sporting event held by a youth sports league; and (2) provide grants to youth sports leagues that adopt the standards to compensate referees at least $50 per game officiated. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to administer the program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1110 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-1110 new)

Sec. 605-1110. Youth Sports Referee Program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Referee" means a person who officiates at a sponsored youth sports activity, such as a referee or umpire, including, but not limited to, persons enrolled as game officials by the Illinois High School Association, the Illinois Elementary School Association, or a youth sports league.

"Youth sports league" means any incorporated or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit entity that organizes and provides sponsored youth sports activities, including, but not limited to, any athletic association, organization, or federation in this State that is owned, operated, sanctioned, or sponsored by a unit of local government or that is owned, operated, sanctioned, or sponsored by a private person or entity, as well as any amateur athletic organization or qualified amateur sports organization in this State under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(j)).

(b) The Department shall create a Youth Sports Referee Program to provide improved compensation and protections to referees employed by youth sports league. The Program shall:

(1) develop standards that protect referees by authorizing them to eject disruptive spectators, including parents, from the premises of a sporting event held by a youth sports league; and

(2) provide grants to youth sports leagues that adopt the standards described in paragraph (1) to compensate referees at least $50 per game officiated.

(c) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to administer the provisions of this Section.