The Utah House killed a bill on Friday that would have enhanced the assault penalties for a physical attack on a referee or umpire.
Rep. Dave Hogue's HB67 failed 40-33. A bill needs 38 votes to pass in the House and Hogue was talking to some "no" vote lawmakers Friday afternoon to see if he could revive the measure.
The bill would have increased a simple assault from a class C misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor if the victim was a sports official attacked just before, during or just after a contest he or she had officiated.
Hogue, who has been a Salt Lake County Recreation basketball referee for 22 years, said the attacks on referees in church, school and community leagues were increasing. " 'Kill the ump' is no longer just a phrase," said Hogue, R-Riverton.
But Hogue was shot down by complaints from his own Republican colleagues, several of whom said they didn't like the bill because it smelled too much like hate-crime legislation they've opposed for years.
"You've selected a group, umpires," to protect or single out, said Rep. Chad Bennion, R-Murray. "I'm against this. This person (the referee) is selected out by category." Some hate-crime laws select victims by race, gender, religion or sexual preference and makes attacks against such individuals — because of their association in the groups — carry heavier penalties.
Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, has been a high school and college referee for 25 years. While saying verbal and physical attacks on his profession have increased over the last 10 years, he still opposed Hogue's bill. He said if prosecutors will charge those who attack referees under current assault laws, the message will be received that such actions are not tolerated.