This bill amends West Virginia Code 61-2-15a to classify assault and battery against athletic officials as felony offenses, significantly increasing the penalties for such actions. Under the proposed changes, if a person commits an assault against an athletic official while they are performing their duties, the offender would face a felony charge, with fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 and imprisonment in a state correctional facility for one to two years. Similarly, committing battery against an athletic official would also be classified as a felony, with fines set between $1,000 and $2,000 and a potential prison sentence of one to three years.

The bill also clarifies the definition of "athletic official," encompassing individuals such as umpires, referees, and coaches who enforce rules or supervise participants at sports events. The changes reflect a legislative intent to enhance the protection of athletic officials by imposing stricter penalties for assaults and batteries committed against them during their official duties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-2-15a