Texas high school sports game officials can now remove unruly fans without warning

The University Interscholastic League mandated starting this season that Texas high school sports game officials can remove unruly fans from games without warning. According to a report by WFAA 8 ABC’s Rachel Behrndt, the additional authority came after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 2929 into law.

Both legislative bodies approved this bill principally authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton and co-authored by Sen. Tan Parker. Meanwhile, Representatives A.J. Louderback and Terry Leo-Wilson sponsored the bill that got the requisite two-thirds vote from both legislative chambers. It went through the Senate on a 30-1 vote on May 7 and passed through the House on a 135-0 vote a week later.

This law amends Section 37.105 of the Education Code by adding subsection a-1, which reads:

“A verbal warning and persisting in inappropriate behavior are not required under Subsections (a)(2)(A) and (B) for a person serving as a referee, judge, or other official of an extracurricular athletic activity or competition sponsored or sanctioned by the school district or the University Interscholastic League to eject a spectator from the extracurricular athletic activity or competition.”

Meanwhile, Senator Creighton stated in Behrndt’s report, “These requirements hinder referees, judges, or other officials from responding appropriately to highly disruptive or dangerous spectators during UIL events. SB 2929 seeks to improve student safety and avoid disruption of certain school events by allowing certain individuals to immediately eject spectators from UIL events.”

While the law is already effective, Texas Policy Research voted against the bill due to threats to individual liberty and weakened personal responsibility. They said, “The bill weakens individual liberty by removing procedural safeguards that protect a person’s right to fair treatment at public events.”