Recently, state lawmakers in Indiana and Michigan began discussing the passing of laws to specifically protect sports officials.

In Indiana's and Michigan's versions, simple battery against a sports official would be upgraded to a felony from a misdemeanor.

If either bill passes, those two states would join 23 others that already have specific laws designed to protect officials from assault. The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) catalogs each state's law on its website. It also provides updates of other legislation efforts and offers a model legislation for lawmakers to use.

Click here to view the current state laws.