Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 784.081 (2025)
Assault or battery on specified officials or employees; reclassification of offenses.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
FL-LEGleg.state.fl.us
JustiaFla. Statutes
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
784.081 Assault or battery on specified officials or employees; reclassification of offenses.—
(1) For purposes of this section, the term “sports official” means any person who serves as a referee, an umpire, or a linesman, and any person who serves in a similar capacity as a sports official who may be known by another title, which sports official is duly registered by or is a member of a local, state, regional, or national organization that is engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials.
(2) Whenever a person is charged with committing an assault or aggravated assault or a battery or aggravated battery upon any elected official or employee of: a school district; a private school; the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; a university lab school; a state university or any other entity of the state system of public education, as defined in s. 1000.04; a sports official; an employee or protective investigator of the Department of Children and Families; an employee of a lead community-based provider and its direct service contract providers; or an employee of the Department of Health or its direct service contract providers, when the person committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim, the offense for which the person is charged shall be reclassified as follows:
(a) In the case of aggravated battery, from a felony of the second degree to a felony of the first degree.
(b) In the case of aggravated assault, from a felony of the third degree to a felony of the second degree.
(c) In the case of battery, from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the third degree.
(d) In the case of assault, from a misdemeanor of the second degree to a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) An assault, aggravated assault, battery, or aggravated battery upon a sports official shall be reclassified pursuant to subsection (2) only if such offense is committed upon the sports official when he or she is actively participating as a sports official in an athletic contest or immediately following such athletic contest.
History.—s. 3, ch. 96-293; s. 293, ch. 99-8; s. 11, ch. 2001-68; s. 1037, ch. 2002-387; s. 19, ch. 2004-41; s. 1, ch. 2004-276; s. 48, ch. 2004-350; s. 299, ch. 2014-19.
Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 784.081
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd§784.081(1)AGGRAV BATTERYON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2)ASSAULTON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE
§784.081(3)BATTERYON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE
§784.081(4)SIMPLE ASSLTON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATTERY PUBLIC/PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATT SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING/AFTER CONTEST
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATT DCFS EMPLOYEE/PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATTERY ON EMP OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDER
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATTERY ON ELECTED OFFICIAL
§784.081(2a)AGGRAV BATTERYAGG BATTERY ON DEPT OF HEALTH EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10002
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSAULT ON ELECTED OFFICIAL
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSLT ON EMP OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDER
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSLT ON DCFS EMPLOYEE/PROTECTIVE INVEST
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSLT SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING/AFTER CONTEST
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSAULT ON DEPT OF HEALTH EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2b)AGGRAV ASSAULTAGG ASSLT ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10001
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10000
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9999
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10004
§784.081(2b)ASSAULTRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 10003
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING/AFTER CONTEST
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY DCFS EMPLOYEE/PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY ON EMP OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDER
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY ON ELECTED OFFICIAL
§784.081(2c)BATTERYBATTERY ON DEPT OF HEALTH EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSLT ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSAULT ON DEPT OF HEALTH EMPLOYEE
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSAULT ON ELECTED OFFICIAL
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSAULT ON EMP OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDER
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSLT ON SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING/AFTER CONTEST
§784.081(2d)SIMPLE ASSLTASSLT ON DCFS EMPLOYEE/PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26
cases, 1997–2015 · leading case: Polite v. State, 973 So. 2d 1107 (Fla. 2007).
Polite v. State, 973 So. 2d 1107 (Fla. 2007). “[11] Although section 784.081 has been subsequently amended, see ch.”
Hopkins v. State, 105 So. 3d 470 (Fla. 2012). “As noted by the trial judge, section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2007), was also created by chapter 96-293.”
G.W. v. State, 106 So. 3d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013). “challenge the constitutionality of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2010), asserting that the sentencing enhancement contemplated in the statute violates the equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution and the Florida Constitution.”
Polite v. State, 933 So. 2d 587 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006). “06, Florida Statutes (1995), a statute which was repealed on October 1, 1996, and replaced with section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2000).”
T.H. v. State, 797 So. 2d 1291 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001). “§ 784.081(3), Fla. Stat. (2000). We reverse the conviction for knowingly disrupting or interfering with the lawful administration or functions of an educational institution.”
Ramroop v. State, 174 So. 3d 584 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015). “The same is true when the victim is a specified official or employee under section 784.081 or a code inspector under section 784.”
State v. J.C., 916 So. 2d 847 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005). “§ 784.081, Fla. Stat. (2004). The juveniles all admitted to the offenses as charged.”
W.T.D. v. State, 906 So. 2d 333 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “timely appeals his conviction for attempted battery on a school employee in violation of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2003).”
S.G. v. State, 29 So. 3d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010). “…committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim.... See § 784.081(2) Fla. Stat. (2008).”
C.R.C. v. State, 842 So. 2d 235 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). “Here, the State was required to prove, under section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2001), that C.”
B.L.L. v. State, 764 So. 2d 837 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). “Section 784.081, Florida Statutes (1997), reclassifies the offense of simple battery from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the third degree when the victim of the battery is an employee of a school district and “the person committing the offense knows or has…”
J.D.C. v. State, 841 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). “See §§ 784.081(3), (4), 843.02, Fla. Stat. (2000).”
— 784.081(2) — 6 cases
Polite v. State, 973 So. 2d 1107 (Fla. 2007). “[11] Although section 784.081 has been subsequently amended, see ch.”
S.G. v. State, 29 So. 3d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010). “…committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim.... See § 784.081(2) Fla. Stat. (2008).”
Ramroop v. State, 174 So. 3d 584 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015). “The same is true when the victim is a specified official or employee under section 784.081 or a code inspector under section 784.”
W.T.D. v. State, 906 So. 2d 333 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). “timely appeals his conviction for attempted battery on a school employee in violation of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2003).”
SG v. State, 29 So. 3d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010).
— 784.081(2)(c) — 5 cases
G.W. v. State, 106 So. 3d 83 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013). “challenge the constitutionality of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2010), asserting that the sentencing enhancement contemplated in the statute violates the equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution and the Florida Constitution.”
S.G. v. State, 29 So. 3d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010). “…committing the offense knows or has reason to know the identity or position or employment of the victim.... See § 784.081(2) Fla. Stat. (2008).”
SG v. State, 29 So. 3d 383 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010).
Crittenden v. State, 137 So. 3d 1170 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014).
State v. LL, 933 So. 2d 3 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006).
— 784.081(2)(e) — 1 case
State v. L.L., 933 So. 2d 3 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006).
— 784.081(3) — 4 cases
T.H. v. State, 797 So. 2d 1291 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001). “§ 784.081(3), Fla. Stat. (2000). We reverse the conviction for knowingly disrupting or interfering with the lawful administration or functions of an educational institution.”
J.D.C. v. State, 841 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003). “See §§ 784.081(3), (4), 843.02, Fla. Stat. (2000).”
TH v. State, 797 So. 2d 1291 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001).
JDC v. State, 841 So. 2d 642 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.