Villanova at Connecticut Feb 22, 2022; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies fans rush the court after defeating the Villanova Wildcats at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
By Jessica Kleinschmidt on

Those goosebump game-ending moments followed by storming the court or rushing the field could result in criminal penalties if one of two introduced Florida bills make it to the governor’s desk.

Republican Senator Corey Simon of Tallahassee introduced SB 764, AKA the “Interference with Sporting or Entertainment Events” bill on Tuesday.

Senator Simon is a former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles and was just recently elected in November.

Simon also won a National Championship with Florida State University in 1999.

According to WCTV, should the bill make it through legislation, it would make it a first-degree misdemeanor if someone enters a “covered area” in a stadium or venue in the state of Florida. This could carry up to a year in jail with fines up to $2,500.

Specifically, a “covered area” has been defined as “any area designated for use by players, coaches, officials, performers, or personnel administering a covered event that is on, or adjacent to, the area of performance or play.”

So essentially, this:

Or this:

The bill also specifies a “covered event” as “an athletic competition or practice, including one conducted in a public venue or a live artistic, theatrical, or other entertainment performance event.” The bill adds “the duration of such event includes the period from the opening of the venue’s gates to the public to the closing of the gates after the event.”

Additionally, the bill would apply the same penalties to those who drop, toss, or throws any substance, object, or dangerous instrument into said “covered area,” or anyone in the designated arena.

If an individual should slap or kick anyone in the “covered area,” they could also face those penalties.

Should these pass, (either SB 764 or HB 319) they would take effect on Oct. 1 of this year.

You can read the bill in its entirety here.

[WCTV]

About Jessica Kleinschmidt

Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.

View all posts by Jessica Kleinschmidt