Governor signs housing funds, sport official bills
By Associated Press
Published June 11, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Parents, coaches or fans who threaten or assault referees during school games in Florida would be subject to criminal charges under one of several bills Gov. Jeb Bush signed Thursday.
Bush also signed legislation that reauthorized affordable housing trust funds at last year's funding level.
Affordable housing advocates said the money is crucial to the families they serve - as well as the contractors, real estate agents and other businesses feeding the industry.
The state started the funds through the Sadowski Act in 1992, using the documentary stamp tax charged on real estate transactions. The two funds come up for reauthorization every four years.
Public school students will be able to carry cell phones under another bill Bush signed.
The regulation of cell phones and other wireless devices was previously left to the discretion of the school districts.
Under the law, school boards would set the rules for their usage on school grounds. For example, a school district could require students to leave the cell phones in their lockers.
Bush also signed into law a measure that provides immunity for government agencies that earmark areas for paintball games.
Government entities and workers are already immune from lawsuits over incidents in public skateboarding or inline skating parks.
The bill protecting sports officials would allow for fines of $10,000 and three years in jail for crimes of assault, aggravated assault or aggravated battery.
Florida law already allows increasing the charges in different types of assault when the act is committed against certain public and school officials.
The legislation adds "sports official" to the list.
Under the bill, the attacker would face the additional first-degree charge for attacking umpires, referees, linesmen or people who work in similar capacities during sporting events.
