Florida Statute 784.81 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 784
ASSAULT; BATTERY; CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE

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F.S. 784.081

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.

(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.

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Amendments to 784.081

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 784.081

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S784.081 1 - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE - F: F

S784.081 2 - ASSAULT - ON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE - F: S

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE - F: F

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING OR AFTER CONTEST - F: F

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON DCFS EMPLOYEE OR PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - F: F

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON EMPLOYEE OF COMMUNITY AND CONTRACT PROVIDER - F: F

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON ELECTED OFFICIAL - F: F

S784.081 2a - AGGRAV BATTERY - ON DEPART HEALTH EMPLOY DURING AFTER CONTEST - F: F

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE - F: S

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING OR AFTER CONTEST - F: S

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON DCFS EMPLOYEE OR PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - F: S

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON EMPLOYEE OF COMMUNITY AND CONTRACT PROVIDER - F: S

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON ELECTED OFFICIAL - F: S

S784.081 2b - ASSAULT - ON DEPART HEALTH EMPLOY DURING AFTER CONTEST - F: S

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE - F: T

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING OR AFTER CONTEST - F: T

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON DCFS EMPLOYEE OR PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - F: T

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON EMPLOYEE OF COMMUNITY AND CONTRACT PROVIDER - F: T

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON ELECTED OFFICIAL - F: T

S784.081 2c - BATTERY - ON DEPART HEALTH EMPLOY DURING AFTER CONTEST - F: T

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EDUCATION EMPLOYEE - M: F

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON SPORTS OFFICIAL DURING OR AFTER CONTEST - M: F

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON DCFS EMPLOYEE OR PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATOR - M: F

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON EMPLOYEE OF COMMUNITY AND CONTRACT PROVIDER - M: F

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON ELECTED OFFICIAL - M: F

S784.081 2d - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON DEPART HEALTH EMPLOY DURING AFTER CONTEST - M: F

S784.081 3 - BATTERY - ON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE - F: T

S784.081 4 - SIMPLE ASSLT - ON ELEC OFF EDUCATION DCF OR CONTRACT EMPLOYEE - M: F

Cases Citing Statute 784.081

Total Results: 24

Polite v. State

973 So. 2d 1107, 2007 WL 2790770

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 27, 2007 | Docket: 1292139

Cited 65 times | Published

2d at 591. The Third District referred to section 784.081(2), Florida Statutes (2000), which reclassifies

TH v. State

797 So. 2d 1291, 2001 WL 1335267

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 31, 2001 | Docket: 22775

Cited 9 times | Published

conviction for battery on a school board employee. § 784.081(3), Fla. Stat. (2000). We reverse the conviction

Hopkins v. State

105 So. 3d 470, 37 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 551, 2012 WL 4009511, 2012 Fla. LEXIS 1799

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 13, 2012 | Docket: 60227855

Cited 6 times | Published

judge, section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2007), was also created by chapter 96-293. Section 784.081 also

Polite v. State

933 So. 2d 587, 2006 WL 1627460

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 14, 2006 | Docket: 1712080

Cited 2 times | Published

repealed on October 1, 1996, and replaced with section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2000).[8] Both statutes

State v. JC

916 So. 2d 847

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 19, 2005 | Docket: 1187323

Cited 2 times | Published

charged with battery on a school board employee. § 784.081, Fla. Stat. (2004). The juveniles all admitted

CRC v. State

842 So. 2d 235, 2003 WL 1823469

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 9, 2003 | Docket: 1439839

Cited 2 times | Published

Here, the State was required to prove, under section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2001), that C.R.C. actually

BLL v. State

764 So. 2d 837, 2000 WL 1062200

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 2000 | Docket: 2577329

Cited 2 times | Published

had the intent to strike a school employee. Section 784.081, Florida Statutes (1997), reclassifies the

SG v. State

29 So. 3d 383, 2010 WL 667956

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 26, 2010 | Docket: 1136089

Cited 1 times | Published

charge to a third degree felony pursuant to section 784.081(2) of the Florida Statutes (2008) based on

S.G. v. State

29 So. 3d 383, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 2518

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 26, 2010 | Docket: 60289066

Cited 1 times | Published

charge to a third degree felony pursuant to section 784.081(2) of the Florida Statutes (2008) based on

WTD v. State

906 So. 2d 333, 2005 WL 1556198

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 6, 2005 | Docket: 1775060

Cited 1 times | Published

battery on a school employee in violation of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2003). The State concedes

B.L.L. v. State

764 So. 2d 837, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 9770

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 2000 | Docket: 64799476

Cited 1 times | Published

had the intent to strike a school employee. Section 784.081, Florida Statutes (1997), reclassifies the

Ramroop v. State

174 So. 3d 584, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 13194, 2015 WL 5165545

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 4, 2015 | Docket: 60250439

Published

is a specified official or employee under section 784.081 or a code inspector under section 784.083.

C.L.P. v. State

138 So. 3d 1121, 2014 WL 1908823, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 7106

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 14, 2014 | Docket: 60240488

Published

misdemeanor under an incorrect interpretation of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2012). On appeal, C.L.P

Crittenden v. State

137 So. 3d 1170, 2014 WL 1415189, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 5431

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 14, 2014 | Docket: 60240206

Published

reclassified to a third-degree felony under section 784.081(2)(c), Florida Statutes (2008), which required

G.W. v. State

106 So. 3d 83, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 1750, 2013 WL 440559

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 6, 2013 | Docket: 60228457

Published

and T.L. challenge the constitutionality of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2010), asserting that the

State v. L.L.

933 So. 2d 3, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 5764

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 21, 2006 | Docket: 64845694

Published

school board employee is a third-degree felony. § 784.081(2)(e), Fla. Stat. (2004). The record establishes

State v. LL

933 So. 2d 3, 2006 WL 1041995

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 21, 2006 | Docket: 1712275

Published

school board employee is a third-degree felony. § 784.081(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (2004). The record establishes

State v. J.C.

916 So. 2d 847, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 12792

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 19, 2005 | Docket: 64841398

Published

charged with battery on a school board employee. § 784.081, Fla. Stat. (2004). The juveniles all admitted

W.T.D. v. State

906 So. 2d 333, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 11026

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 6, 2005 | Docket: 64839535

Published

battery on a school employee in violation of section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2003). The State concedes

C.R.C. v. State

842 So. 2d 235, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 4815

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 9, 2003 | Docket: 64821992

Published

Here, the State was required to prove, under section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2001), that C.R.C. actually

T.S. v. State

808 So. 2d 1276, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 2376, 2002 WL 342139

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 6, 2002 | Docket: 64812987

Published

repealed on October 1, 1996, and replaced with section 784.081, Florida Statutes (2000). Both statutes address

T.H. v. State

797 So. 2d 1291, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 15289

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 31, 2001 | Docket: 64809667

Published

conviction for battery on a school board employee. § 784.081(3), Fla. Stat. (2000). We reverse the conviction

W.E.R. v. School Board of Polk County

749 So. 2d 540, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 17, 2000 WL 3946

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 5, 2000 | Docket: 64794198

Published

employment of the victim, ...” as specified in section 784.081, Florida Statutes (1997), in order to be in

D.A.B. v. State

700 So. 2d 129, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 11188, 1997 WL 614370

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 8, 1997 | Docket: 64776104

Published

an element of the offense as specified in section 784.081, Florida Statutes (Supp.1996), the adjudication