SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6265

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions, January 29, 2002

 

Title:  An act relating to ambulances at boxing, wrestling, and martial arts events.

 

Brief Description:  Requiring an ambulance and ambulance personnel at or near certain athletic event locations.

 

Sponsors:  Senator Prentice.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  1/15/02, 1/29/02 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6265 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Benton, Franklin, Gardner, Hochstatter, Rasmussen, Regala and Winsley.

 

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

 

Background:  Boxing, martial arts, and wrestling promoters are currently required to have an ambulance or paramedical unit present at events.  There is concern that this requirement may be costly and unnecessary for promoters.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Wrestling promoters are not required to have an ambulance at event locations if there is a first responder present.  Boxing and martial arts promoters must have an ambulance present at event locations.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Instead of having an ambulance present within five miles, wrestling promoters can either have an ambulance or a first responder present at the event location.  Ambulances are mandatory for boxing and martial arts matches.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 9, 2002.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

 

Testimony For:  Professional wrestling is more theater than sport.  Other sports have higher injury rates than wrestling but are not required to have ambulances present at events.  Ambulances are on site at matches, but since current law says the ambulance has to be at the event at all times, promoters would have to call a second ambulance to the event to respond to incidents.  The ambulance requirement is costly and unnecessary.

 

Testimony Against:  The bill does not only apply to wrestling promoters, but to boxing and martial arts promoters as well.  Ambulances should be mandatory at boxing and martial arts events.  It would be dangerous for wrestlers to not have medical professionals on site during a match.

 

Testified:  Mary Jelvik, DOL (con); Dave Teixeira, ECCW Pro Wrestling (pro).