FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6103

C 149 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Making certain types of extreme fighting illegal.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Zarelli, Keiser, Rasmussen, Regala, Franklin, Kline, Deccio, Jacobsen and Fairley).

Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background: Professional boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, and wrestling matches are regulated by the Department of Licensing (DOL). Participants and promoters of such events must be licensed and the event must be conducted in accordance with rules adopted by DOL. Such events that "are entirely amateur events promoted on a nonprofit basis," or are conducted by schools, colleges or universities are not subject to licensing and regulation by DOL.

Summary: An "amateur event" is defined as one in which "all the participants are amateurs" and is sanctioned by specified entities, such as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the NCAA, Golden Gloves, etc., or similar organizations. The definition of "amateur" is amended to include only persons who have never competed for or received more than $50 in an athletic event.

Definitions of "boxing," "kickboxing" and "martial arts" are amended to exclude activities where the intent is to injure or disable an opponent.

Certain forms of fighting ("no holds barred-," "frontier-," or "extreme-" fighting) are defined as having the purpose of intentionally injuring a contestant and are prohibited. Other forms of fighting, which allow the participation of contestants who are not trained in the sport ("combative-," "toughman-," "toughwoman-" and "badman-" fighting), are defined and prohibited. "Elimination tournaments" are also defined and prohibited.

The promotion of any form of fighting prohibited by the statute is a class C felony.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       46  3

House       95  0

Effective: March 26, 2004