Senate raises penalties for assault on athletic officials, citing rise in threats at youth events

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on March 29 approved a bill that increases penalties for assault and battery on athletic officials at organized sporting events and extends coverage to travel to and from those events.

The bill defines "athletic official" to include umpires, referees, coaches and other staff who enforce event rules and raises the monetary penalty and possible confinement: sponsors described raising the minimum fine from $500 to $1,000 and increasing the maximum fine and criminal consequences, with potential jail time of up to 12 months in addition to fines.

Supporters said the changes respond to growing incidents of spectator intimidation and attacks on officials at youth and amateur sports. "These games that are played on courts and fields and tracks have become blood sport in certain respects," said the Junior Senator from the seventh, noting officials are being threatened and some states have had to cancel school athletic events because officials would not show up.

The Senator from Cabell, who had introduced the original bill, thanked the education committee for improving the measure and noted that unpaid or minimally compensated officials — "I might get paid with a corn dog" — deserve protection from aggressive parents and spectators.

The Senate recorded a roll call vote of 33 ayes and 1 nay and the presiding officer declared the bill passed. The clerk was directed to communicate action to the House.