Florida Senate - 2023                              CS for SB 764
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Criminal Justice; and Senator Simon
       
       
       
       
       
       591-02785-23                                           2023764c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to interference with sporting or
    3         entertainment events; creating s. 871.05, F.S.;
    4         providing definitions; prohibiting certain actions
    5         during covered sporting and entertainment events;
    6         providing criminal penalties; prohibiting profiting
    7         from violations; providing for seizure and forfeiture
    8         of specified assets; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 871.05, Florida Statutes, is created to
   13  read:
   14         871.05 Interference with a sporting or entertainment
   15  event.—
   16         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   17         (a) “Covered event” means an athletic competition or
   18  practice, including one conducted in a public venue or a live
   19  artistic, theatrical, or other entertainment performance event.
   20  The duration of such event includes the period from the time
   21  when a venue is held open to the public for such an event until
   22  the end of the athletic competition or performance event.
   23         (b) “Covered participant” means an umpire, officiating crew
   24  member, player, coach, manager, groundskeeper, or any artistic,
   25  theatrical, or other performer or sanctioned participant in a
   26  covered event. The term includes event operations and security
   27  employees working at a covered event.
   28         (c) “Restricted area” means any area designated for use by
   29  players, coaches, officials, performers, or other personnel
   30  administering a covered event that is on, or adjacent to, the
   31  area of play or performance.
   32         (2) A person may not:
   33         (a) Intentionally touch or strike a covered participant
   34  during a covered event against the will of the covered
   35  participant, or intentionally cause bodily harm to a covered
   36  participant during a covered event; or
   37         (b) Willfully enter or remain in a restricted area during a
   38  covered event without being authorized, licensed, or invited to
   39  enter or remain in such a restricted area.
   40         (3) A person who:
   41         (a) Violates subsection (2) commits a misdemeanor of the
   42  first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine
   43  of not more than $2,500.
   44         (b) Solicits another person to violate subsection (2) by
   45  offering money or any other thing of value to another to engage
   46  in specific conduct that constitutes such a violation commits a
   47  felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
   48  775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
   49         (4) A person convicted of a violation of this section may
   50  not realize any profit or benefit, directly or indirectly, from
   51  committing such a violation. Any profit or benefit payable to or
   52  accruing to a person convicted of a violation of this section is
   53  subject to seizure and forfeiture as provided in the Florida
   54  Contraband Forfeiture Act.
   55         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2023.