HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5787
As Reported By House Committee On:
Commerce & Labor
Title: An act relating to state professional athletic commission.
Brief Description: Regulating professional athletics.
Sponsors: Senators Gaspard, von Reichbauer and Franklin; by request of Professional Athletic Commission.
Brief History:
Reported by House Committee on:
Commerce & Labor, March 31, 1993, DP.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Heavey, Chair; G. Cole, Vice Chair; Lisk, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway; Horn; King; Springer; and Veloria.
Staff: Jim Kelley (786-7166).
Background: Professional boxing, wrestling, and sparring are regulated by the Professional Athletic Commission. The commission grants annual licenses to conduct professional boxing, wrestling, and sparring matches and exhibitions, including closed circuit simulcasts.
The commission may grant licenses to promoters, managers, referees, boxers, wrestlers, and seconds upon application in compliance with its rules and regulations and payment of fees. Boxing promoters who receive licenses must post a $10,000 bond. Wrestling exhibition promoters who receive licenses must post a $1,000 bond in cities with populations under 150,000 and a $2,500 bond in cities with populations over 150,000.
The penalty for violating any rule or regulation or for participating in a sham boxing match is license suspension. A license holder who is convicted under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act shall have his or her license revoked.
Summary of Bill: The definition of boxing is expanded to include kickboxing and martial arts. Martial arts include, but are not limited to, sumo, judo, and karate.
The following fees are established for promoters: For a boxing promoter, $100 for each city or $500 statewide; for a wrestling promoter, $50 for each city or $500 statewide; and for a closed circuit telecast promoter, $100 for each telecast. Instead of posting separate bonds in different cities, a wrestling exhibition promoter who receives a license may choose to post a single $10,000 bond.