HB497 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thomas JacksonRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Dickie DrakeHarry ShiverAlan BakerDexter Grimsley

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Workers' compensation, sports officials to qualify as independent contractors, exempt from workers' compensation coverage, Sec. 25-5-50 am'd.

Summary

HB497 would treat sports officials as independent contractors, exempt them from workers’ compensation coverage, and shield them from civil liability for officiating at certain amateur and scholastic events.

What This Bill Does

It adds a definition of sports official and states that officials for interscholastic/intercollegiate or amateur events are independent contractors, not employees. Because they would be independent contractors, they would generally not be covered by workers’ compensation for these duties. It also provides that sports officials shall not be liable in civil actions for injuries or damages arising from their officiating duties, as long as they act reasonably and not willfully, maliciously, or fraudulently. The changes take effect on the first day of the third month after the bill becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Sports officials (e.g., umpires, referees, judges, linesmen, scorekeepers, timekeepers) who officiate interscholastic, intercollegiate, or amateur events will be treated as independent contractors rather than employees, affecting their eligibility for workers’ compensation and their exposure to civil lawsuits.
• Organizations that hire these officials for events (schools, public/private amateur organizations, sponsors) will engage them as independent contractors for these roles, changing who is responsible for workers’ compensation coverage and who faces potential civil liability in certain situations.

Key Provisions

• Defines sports official as a neutral participant (umpire, referee, judge, linesman, scorekeeper, timekeeper) and applies to those officiating interscholastic/intercollegiate or amateur events.
• Sports officials in these contexts are designated as independent contractors, not employees, for purposes of workers’ compensation and related coverage.
• Sports officials shall not be subject to civil liability in actions for injuries or damages related to officiating duties, provided they act within reasonable standards and without willful, malicious, fraudulent, or imprudent conduct.
• Amends Section 25-5-50 to implement these changes and clarifies related provisions and effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Workers' Compensation