Bill > HB634

This bill expands the definition of "special victim" in Missouri law to include sports officials who are assaulted while performing their duties at a sporting event. Specifically, the bill adds a new subsection to the existing legal definition that protects certain professionals from assault, such as law enforcement officers and emergency personnel. The new provision covers sports officials at all levels of competition, defining a sports official as a judge, linesman, official, referee, or umpire who is trained and certified by an organization specializing in sports official education and registration. By adding sports officials to the list of special victims, the bill provides enhanced legal protection, potentially resulting in more serious criminal charges for those who assault sports officials during sporting events. This change reflects a recognition of the challenging and sometimes dangerous work performed by sports officials and aims to deter violent behavior towards them while they are carrying out their professional responsibilities.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB634&year=2025&code=R