HB497 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 25-5-50 to define sports officials (umpires, referees, judges, linesman, scorekeepers, timekeepers) as independent contractors exempt from workers' compensation coverage.

• Sports officials working for interscholastic, intercollegiate, public entities, or private nonprofit organizations sponsoring amateur sports events are classified as independent contractors, not employees.

• Grants sports officials immunity from civil liability for injuries or damages arising from officiating duties, except when acting willfully, maliciously, fraudulently, or contrary to how a reasonably prudent official would act.

• Excludes from the definition persons already employed by a sports-sponsoring organization who perform officiating as part of their regular employment duties.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.