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.
Former #Eagles DT Corey Simon has been elected by the people of his home state Florida to serve as a Florida State Senator. 🇺🇸🦅 pic.twitter.com/NykI5mwsbs
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) November 9, 2022
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.”
STORMING THE COURT IN BLOOMINGTON ‼️ @IndianaMBB pic.twitter.com/67RtgSjAsf
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 4, 2023
Or this:
THEY’RE STORMING THE FIELD IN LUBBOCK 🚨
TEXAS TECH TAKES DOWN NO. 22 TEXAS IN OT! pic.twitter.com/WaCoLxbZJf
— ESPN (@espn) September 24, 2022
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.