House passes bill to allow kids to ref

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - A bill allowing children to referee youth sporting events is now on its way to the governor's desk.

Senate bill 153 passed the House 92-4 Tuesday.

The bill would allow children as young as 12 to referee, umpire or officiate sporting events.

The idea came from a child in Newburgh who wanted to legally referee soccer games.

Matthew Burkart testified to both the Senate and the House regarding the bill.

State Senator Vaneta Becker, who authored the bill, says it shows Indiana allows children to pursue their dreams.

"This bill will affect more than 300 young Hoosiers across the state," Becker said.  "We want to provide them with the opportunity to pursue their ambitions and show them that, as Matthew said, Indiana is not a state that will hold them back."

Once the bill is signed, children will be able to referee all sporting events.