NE2: Sanity in Child and Youth Sports Act (Failed)

[cinyc]

Sanity In Child and Youth Sports Act

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Sponsor: Representative Winfield

Debate on this bill will be open for 72 hours, or until around 6:00PM on January 14, unless modified or extended.  Representative Winfield is encouraged to speak on behalf of the bill within the next 36 hours.  If he does not, the bill will be tabled, as there is other legislation pending in the proposed legislation thread.

The floor is open for debate.

[Lincoln Republican]

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

I rise in this esteemed Assembly today to speak in behalf of this bill, the Sanity In Child and Youth Sports act, which I am pleased to present to this Assembly.

I do not take this matter lightly, and neither, I believe, should any member of this Assembly.

We have all heard, I am sure, of some incident here, some incident there, involving the impetuous or even violent actions of so called "Hockey Dads" that have taken place at child and youth sports events, regardless of the sport.

There have been incidents where a "Hockey Dad" has physically attacked a coach for benching his son at a hockey game, resulting in the hospitalization of the coach.

There is a reported incident of a 9 year old child hockey player who wishes his dad "cared enough" about him and his teammates to curse, threaten, or even physically assault other parents during games.  This is just one incident that shows this behavior on the part of these adults is having an adverse effect on children who are exposed to this behavior.

These types of behaviors on the part of "Hockey Dads" must be brought under control before more serious incidents occur.

I urge passage of this bill, especially for the benefit of our children and youth.

[Deus Naturae]

Couldn't this be considered an infringement upon freedom of speech?

[Napoleon]

I 100% endorse this bill. Hockey moms, dads, foster child guardians alike need to learn proper manners.

[sentinel]

Winfield is spot on, there is no place for this kind of behavior --especially in children's sports and recreation leagues. However, I am concerned that this bill is an overreach of the regional government's authority.

Parents have to sign a contract when entering their child in a league or organization, etc, and the public or private entity that is hosting the league can place stipulations in the contract regarding parental behavior. I would think this is sufficient. In addition, if a situation escalates, the police can already intervene.

[Napoleon]

Winfield is spot on, there is no place for this kind of behavior --especially in children's sports and recreation leagues. However, I am concerned that this bill is an overreach of the regional government's authority.

Parents have to sign a contract when entering their child in a league or organization, etc, and the public or private entity that is hosting the league can place stipulations in the contract regarding parental behavior. I would think this is sufficient. In addition, if a situation escalates, the police can already intervene.

This works to stop serial offenders though, which otherwise there is no mechanism to stop them. These hockey mom offenders could go thougb youth sports leagues like I do political parties.

[Cincinnatus]

However, I am concerned that this bill is an overreach of the regional government's authority.

An agreeable statement.  Obviously "violent, threatening" behavior is unacceptable, but such is already addressed by law. 

[sentinel]

Winfield is spot on, there is no place for this kind of behavior --especially in children's sports and recreation leagues. However, I am concerned that this bill is an overreach of the regional government's authority.

Parents have to sign a contract when entering their child in a league or organization, etc, and the public or private entity that is hosting the league can place stipulations in the contract regarding parental behavior. I would think this is sufficient. In addition, if a situation escalates, the police can already intervene.

This works to stop serial offenders though, which otherwise there is no mechanism to stop them. These hockey mom offenders could go thougb youth sports leagues like I do political parties.

Goes back to what I already said. Public and private leagues already have the power to do that via laws currently on the books and the regulations of the host league/venue.

[Lincoln Republican]

This bill will act as a wake up call, however, to offenders who have been getting away with this type of behavior.

We all know that not all of these offenders are brought to account for their actions.

[cinyc]

I can't support this bill.  I don't view micromanaging crowd participation at childrens' hockey games as something that is appropriate for us to legislate.  "Violent" and "threatening" behavior is already covered by other laws.  What is "verbal abuse" is often in the eye of the beholder - and if severe enough, may qualify under existing harassment statutes.  And "any other kind of unacceptable behavior" is far too broad and vague, covering who knows what is unacceptable to whom, implicating, as Representative Deus said, various freedom of speech concerns.

Let the various leagues set their own rules and punishments without getting the Northeast government involved.

[Lincoln Republican]

We should have one uniform policy across the board in the Northeast, so everyone knows what the policy is.

My bill does that.

And this bill strengthens any existing laws.

[Lincoln Republican]

Couldn't this be considered an infringement upon freedom of speech?

No.

Freedom of speech ends when someone starts verbally abusing someone else.

[Earthling]

I support this bill. Parents should behave as adults when they are watching their child. When they are not capable of doing that, they should be punished.

[cinyc]

The debate period is now over.  Seeing no proposed amendments, it is time to vote on the final bill as originally drafted:

Sanity In Child and Youth Sports Act

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This vote will remain open for the earlier of 48 hours or when all Representatives have voted.

[cinyc]

Nay

[Deus Naturae]

Nay

[Cincinnatus]

Nay

[Lincoln Republican]

Yea

[Earthling]

Aye

[cinyc]

By a 2-3 vote, the bill fails.