Expands the definition of special victim to include sports officials at a sporting event

HB 2319 expands Missouri's legal definition of a "special victim" to include sports officials (such as referees, umpires, or linesmen) who are assaulted while performing their duties at any level of sporting event. This change adds a new category (14)(l) to the statute, specifying that a sports official must be trained and certified by an authorized organization to qualify. The bill directly affects sports officials by granting them the same legal protections as other "special victims" (like law enforcement or emergency personnel) when they are assaulted during their work. This is a concrete policy change to the criminal code, not a procedural measure.