103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3371

Introduced , by Rep. Dave Vella

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 605/605-1110 new

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Youth Sports Referee Program to provide improved compensation and protections to referees employed by youth sports leagues. Provides that the Program shall: (1) develop standards that protect referees by authorizing them to eject disruptive spectators, including parents, from the premises of a sporting event held by a youth sports league; and (2) provide grants to youth sports leagues that adopt the standards to compensate referees at least $50 per game officiated. Provides that the Department may adopt any rules necessary to administer the program.
LRB103 24845 SPS 51178 b

A BILL FOR

HB3371LRB103 24845 SPS 51178 b
1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
5Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
6is amended by adding Section 605-1110 as follows:
7 (20 ILCS 605/605-1110 new)
8 Sec. 605-1110. Youth Sports Referee Program.
9 (a) As used in this Section:
10 "Referee" means a person who officiates at a sponsored
11youth sports activity, such as a referee or umpire, including,
12but not limited to, persons enrolled as game officials by the
13Illinois High School Association, the Illinois Elementary
14School Association, or a youth sports league.
15 "Youth sports league" means any incorporated or
16unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit entity that
17organizes and provides sponsored youth sports activities,
18including, but not limited to, any athletic association,
19organization, or federation in this State that is owned,
20operated, sanctioned, or sponsored by a unit of local
21government or that is owned, operated, sanctioned, or
22sponsored by a private person or entity, as well as any amateur
23athletic organization or qualified amateur sports organization

HB3371- 2 -LRB103 24845 SPS 51178 b
1in this State under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.
2501(c)(3) or 501(j)).
3 (b) The Department shall create a Youth Sports Referee
4Program to provide improved compensation and protections to
5referees employed by youth sports league. The Program shall:
6 (1) develop standards that protect referees by
7 authorizing them to eject disruptive spectators, including
8 parents, from the premises of a sporting event held by a
9 youth sports league; and
10 (2) provide grants to youth sports leagues that adopt
11 the standards described in paragraph (1) to compensate
12 referees at least $50 per game officiated.
13 (c) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to
14administer the provisions of this Section.