Bill > HB4999

This bill expands protections for athletic officials and participants in sports events by clarifying that victims of assault and battery can include players on a sports team, and other individuals involved in supervising or enforcing rules, such as coaches and referees. It establishes minimum fines for these offenses, with assault resulting in a fine of at least $250 and battery a fine of at least $500, and also clarifies that a battery conviction can lead to up to one year in jail. Furthermore, the bill allows for individuals convicted of these crimes to be banned from school sports events for at least 365 days, with written notification of the ban, and makes violating such a ban a form of trespass, subject to further legal action. Importantly, the bill exempts participating athletes from prosecution for actions taken during a sporting event, such as hard fouls, as long as those actions are within the scope of the sport's rules or nature.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4999&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill