The Bill, known as the “Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act,” failed to pass the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 17. The main provision of the bill would create a statewide “Ban List” of fans convicted of violent offenses at California professional sports arenas.
Among Assembly Committees concern’s on the proposed bill were the criminal enhancements (additional time to serve), the constitutionality of the bill, fear of further violence from releasing personal information of convicted fans to the public, and budgets concerns arising from creating a new program within the Department of Justice.
While this is definitely a setback, the bill is not dead. According Assemblyman Mike Gattos’ staff, they will be working this week with the Assembly Committee staff and Chair to amend the bill. They have hopes of resubmitting the bill for consideration next Tuesday April 24th.
Although, the bills main provision is the proposed “Ban List”, it also comes with some other very interesting provisions. The bill would require all professional venues post, in visible areas, the venues security telephone and text messaging numbers. It would also require a verbal announcement of the signage locations:
- Once per quarter for a football game.
- Four times per game for a baseball game.
- Once per period for a hockey game.
- At least three times for any other professional sporting event.
Another provision to the bill is the “Stadium Violence Reward Fund.” This provision would require each professional team to contribute $10,000 annually (until $180,000 is acquired) into a fund administered by the Department of Justice. The purpose of fund is to provide a reward to the general public who assist in the apprehension of persons committing violent acts at professional venues.
With the growing number of violent acts at sporting events nationwide, we believe this bill is a step in the right direction.
Click Here to view the entire Bill
Click Here to view the Assembly Committee Analyses