FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5754

                          C 205 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Regulating boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, and wrestling.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Franklin and Newhouse; by request of Department of Licensing.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  In 1995, the Department of Licensing (DOL) formed an ad hoc advisory committee to evaluate and propose regulations for boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and martial arts.  The committee compared existing regulations of the various sports with those of other states such as California and Nevada, and recommended changes to clarify the terminology, raise the safety and health standards, and update the administration and regulation of participants and events.

Summary:  AKickboxing@ and Amartial arts@ are defined and included within the definition of professional boxing.  AAmateur@ and Atough man/rough man contest or competitions@ are defined.

DOL may issue administrative penalties to a licensee in lieu of or in addition to suspension, denial or revocation of a license.  The department may also establish and assess penalties for violations of any regulation in the chapter.

A boxing promoter is permitted to file one bond, to be determined by the department, for the license period instead of filing one for each event.  The authority to approve bonds is removed from the Attorney General.  A promoter must obtain proof of medical insurance for the entire license period, with its amount to be determined by the department but not less than $50,000.  Such proof of medical insurance must be shown to the department at least 72 hours before each event.

The promoter must pay a minimum tax of $25 for gross receipts from each live event.  The number of untaxed complimentary tickets is limited to 5 percent of the total tickets sold per event location, not to exceed 300 tickets.

The promoter is responsible for travel expenses of the inspectors and physicians.

Boxing contests are limited to 12 rounds.  A physician must conduct a pre-fight physical examination 24 hours before a fight.  DOL is authorized to set nonrefundable license fees for wrestling participants, matchmakers, physicians, inspectors, judges, timekeepers and announcers.

DOL has the authority to request further information from participants to ensure the classification of an event is accurate.

DOL may revoke or deny a license to a licensee convicted under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, or tests positive for illegal use of a controlled substance.

Written complaints regarding an applicant=s or a licensee=s unprofessional conduct may be submitted to the department for review and investigation. The complainant is immune from suit in any civil action related to the filing or contents of the complaint.  The licensee may request a hearing with the department.  If DOL finds that the applicant or licensee has committed unprofessional conduct, then the department may deny, revoke or suspend his or her license; require payment of a fine; or take other corrective action deemed appropriate to the violation.  The director of DOL may investigate and issue a cease and desist order to a person who is not licensed to engage in a regulated boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, or martial arts event.

Unprofessional conduct is defined to include conviction of a gross misdemeanor, felony or commission of an act involving moral turpitude, acts of misrepresentation in the furnishing of information for a license, and false advertising.

The director and others acting under his or her authority are immune from suit in an action based on disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed in the course of their duties.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 45 4

House     86 9

Effective:  July 27, 1997