The West Virginia Senate adopted an amendment and passed the House-amended committee substitute for Senate Bill 531, relating to offenses of assault and battery on athletic officials. The Senate voted 32 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent on final passage.

Senator from Lewis, speaking in support of the measure, said the bill’s purpose is “protecting athletic officials and participants” by increasing penalties for assault or battery against athletic officials and participants at sporting events. He said the bill also allows schools or governing boards to notify those convicted, ban them from attending sporting events and, if necessary, enforce that ban as criminal trespass. He urged adoption of a title amendment and the substantive amendment.

The clerk reported the House had amended and passed the committee substitute before the Senate considered it. The Senate first adopted the senator’s amendment to the House amendment by voice vote; the chair declared the amendment adopted. The Senate then voted on concurrence in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill by roll-call tally: 32 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent, not voting. The clerk was instructed to communicate the action to the House.

No other debate or amendments were recorded in the transcript beyond the sponsor’s explanation and the chair’s calls for the yeas and nays. The transcript does not specify sentencing ranges or statutory citation changes beyond the summary the sponsor provided.

The action will be transmitted to the House for further processing as required by legislative procedure.