Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri HB1938: Establishes the offenses of harassment of a school or recreation athletic official and entry or remaining on site of a school or recreation athletic contest after being forbidden
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
To amend chapters 565 and 569, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to school or recreation athletic contest offenses, with penalty provisions. Section A. Chapters 565 and 569, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 565.096 and 569.154, to read as follows: 565.096. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Respect the Whistle Act". 2. As used in this section, the following terms and phrases mean: (1) "Harassment", verbal or nonverbal behavior by a person that would cause a reasonable person to be placed in fear of receiving bodi.
From the introduced text:
To amend chapters 565 and 569, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to school or recreation athletic contest offenses, with penalty provisions. Section A. Chapters 565 and 569, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 565.096 and 569.154, to read as follows: 565.096. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Respect the Whistle Act". 2. As used in this section, the following terms and phrases mean: (1) "Harassment", verbal or nonverbal behavior by a person that would cause a reasonable person to be placed in fear of receiving bodily harm; (2) "Recreation athletic contest official", any referee, umpire, coach, instructor, administrator, staff person, or recreation employee of any public or quasi-public recreation program; (3) "School athletic contest official", any referee, umpire, coach, instructor, administrator, staff person, or school or school board employee of any public or private elementary or secondary school. 3. A person commits the offense of harassment of a school or recreation athletic contest official if the harassment occurs under the following circumstances: (1) While the school or recreation athletic contest official is actively engaged in the conducting, supervising, refereeing, or officiating of a school-sanctioned interscholastic athletic contest or a sanctioned recreation athletic contest; or EXPLANATION -- Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in …