LRB-1365/1
MED:wlj:jm
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
March 5, 2015 - Introduced by Representatives Kleefisch, Berceau, Brostoff,
Danou, Edming, Hintz, Kahl, Mursau, A. Ott, Zepnick, Zamarripa and
Steffen, cosponsored by Senators Cowles, Hansen and Harris Dodd.
Referred to Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations.
AB76,1,6 1An Act to amend 20.165 (1) (im), chapter 444 (title), 444.01 (1g), 444.01 (3),
2444.01 (4), 444.02 (1), 444.02 (2), 444.02 (3) (intro.), 444.03, 444.035, 444.04,
3444.06, 444.095 (title), 444.095 (1), 444.095 (2) (intro.), 444.095 (3) (intro.),
4444.095 (3) (a), 444.095 (3) (b) (intro.), 444.11, 444.12, 444.13, 444.14, 444.15
5and 444.18; and to create 444.01 (5) and 444.015 of the statutes; relating to:
6regulation of unarmed combat sports.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law contains numerous provisions regulating professional boxing and
amateur and professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting contests and
exhibitions. These provisions require licensure of promoters and clubs where
contests and exhibitions are held; permits for boxing and MMA fighting contests; and
licenses for matchmakers, managers, referees, boxers, mixed martial arts fighters,
and seconds. They also contain other requirements that apply specifically to either
boxing or MMA contests or exhibitions. With respect to MMA fighting contests, the
requirements of the law include 1) that contestants be covered by adequate health
insurance; 2) that licensed referees and judges be present at MMA contests; and 3)
that a physician be present at each match and that emergency medical services
personnel be present. These provisions regulating professional boxing and amateur
and professional MMA fighting contests and exhibitions are enforced and
administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services, which has
promulgated more detailed rules to implement them.

This bill generally substitutes "unarmed combat sports" for "mixed martial arts
fighting" in these provisions so that all unarmed combat sports—including
wrestling, kickboxing, karate, mixed martial arts, and any other form of unarmed
combat—are subject to the same laws that apply to amateur and professional MMA
fighting. The bill exempts from the law, however: 1) any karate contest, match, or
exhibition in which all of the contestants are amateur participants; 2) any
interscholastic or intercollegiate contest, match, or exhibition; and 3) an elementary
or secondary school, college, or university karate or wrestling coach who receives
compensation for teaching or coaching karate or wrestling only from the school,
college, or university.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB76,1 1Section 1. 20.165 (1) (im) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,2,42 20.165 (1) (im) Boxing and mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports ;
3enforcement.
Fifty percent of all moneys received in forfeitures imposed under s.
4444.14, for enforcement of ch. 444.
AB76,2 5Section 2. Chapter 444 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,2,66 CHAPTER 444
AB76,2,97 REGULATION OF BOXING AND
8 MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTING
9Unarmed combat sports
AB76,3 10Section 3. 444.01 (1g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,2,1411 444.01 (1g) "Amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports
12contest" means a mixed martial arts fighting contest or exhibition of unarmed
13combat sports
in which none of the fighters contestants are compensated for
14participating in the contest or exhibition.
AB76,4 15Section 4. 444.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,3,2
1444.01 (3) "Professional contest" means a professional boxing contest or a
2professional mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest.
AB76,5 3Section 5. 444.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,3,74 444.01 (4) "Professional mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports
5contest" means a mixed martial arts fighting contest or exhibition of unarmed
6combat sports
in which one or more of the fighters contestants is compensated for
7participating in the contest or exhibition.
AB76,6 8Section 6. 444.01 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
AB76,3,119 444.01 (5) "Unarmed combat sports" includes wrestling, kickboxing, karate,
10mixed martial arts, and any other form of unarmed combat, but does not include
11boxing.
AB76,7 12Section 7. 444.015 of the statutes is created to read:
AB76,3,15 13444.015 Application of this chapter. (1) In this section, "amateur" means
14a contestant who does not compete for a prize, in cash or otherwise, that has a value
15of more than $25.
AB76,3,17 16(2) This chapter does not apply to, or require any license or permit for, any of
17the following:
AB76,3,1918 (a) Any karate contest, match, or exhibition in which all of the contestants are
19amateur participants.
AB76,3,2020 (b) Any interscholastic or intercollegiate contest, match, or exhibition.
AB76,3,2321 (c) An elementary or secondary school, college, or university karate or
22wrestling coach who receives compensation for teaching or coaching karate or
23wrestling only from the school, college, or university.
AB76,8 24Section 8. 444.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,4,7
1444.02 (1) The department shall have the sole direction, management, and
2control of, and jurisdiction over, all professional contests and all amateur mixed
3martial arts fighting
unarmed combat sports contests conducted within the state by
4any promoter or club. No club or promoter may conduct professional contests or
5amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests within the
6state except under authority granted by the department and in accordance with this
7chapter and the rules of the department.
AB76,9 8Section 9. 444.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,4,169 444.02 (2) The department may issue, and for cause limit, suspend, or revoke,
10a license to conduct professional contests or amateur mixed martial arts fighting
11unarmed combat sports contests to any promoter or incorporated club formed as
12provided in this chapter. Every license shall be subject to the department's rules and
13regulations. The department may limit the number of professional contests and
14amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests given by any
15promoter or club in any city, village, or town and may reprimand a promoter or club
16for violating this chapter or any rule of the department.
AB76,10 17Section 10. 444.02 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,4,2318 444.02 (3) (intro.) No professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts
19fighting
unarmed combat sports contest may be conducted by any licensed club
20without a permit from the department. An application for a permit shall be
21accompanied by a nonrefundable $300 processing fee. Every permit shall be
22conditioned on payment by the promoter or club to the department, within 2 business
23days after the event for which the permit was issued, of the following fees:
AB76,11 24Section 11. 444.03 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,5,8
1444.03 Application for license; fee. No professional contest or amateur
2mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest may be conducted by any
3promoter or club except by license granted to it by the department. An application
4for a license shall be in writing, addressed to the department, and verified by the
5promoter or by an officer of the club. An application shall be accompanied by an
6annual fee of $500. The application must show that the promoter or club has entered
7into a valid agreement for the use of the building, amphitheater, or stadium in which
8contests are to be held.
AB76,12 9Section 12. 444.035 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,5,15 10444.035 Bond. The department shall by rule require a promoter or club
11conducting a professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed
12combat sports
contest to post a bond or other surety in a reasonable amount
13determined by the department to ensure payment of the promoter's or club's
14expenses in conducting the contest, including payments to contestants and to the
15department.
AB76,13 16Section 13. 444.04 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,6,2 17444.04 Promoter and club reports. Within 2 business days after a promoter
18or club holds a professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed
19combat sports
contest, the club shall furnish to the department a written report,
20verified by the promoter or by one of the club's officers under penalty of perjury,
21showing the number of tickets sold for the contest, the amount of gross proceeds, and
22all other information the department requires by rule to be included in the report.
23The department may limit, suspend, revoke, or assess a forfeiture to the promoter
24or club for failure to comply with this section or failure to provide accurate

1information to the department. Any forfeiture collected under this section shall be
2deposited in the appropriation account under s. 20.165 (1) (jm).
AB76,14 3Section 14. 444.06 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,6,14 4444.06 Inspectors. The department shall appoint official inspectors, each of
5whom shall receive a card authorizing the inspector to act wherever the department
6designates. The department may be, and at least one inspector shall be present at
7all professional contests and all amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed
8combat sports
contests and see that the rules are strictly observed. Inspectors shall
9be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
10of their duties. The department may require a promoter or club to pay the cost of
11designating additional inspectors, who may include a referee or judge performing the
12duties of an inspector, for an event. The department may require a promoter or club
13to pay the department an amount not to exceed $250 for each additional inspector
14designated by the department.
AB76,15 15Section 15. 444.095 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,6,17 16444.095 (title) Conduct of mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat
17sports
contests regulated.
AB76,16 18Section 16. 444.095 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,6,2119 444.095 (1) No individual may be a contestant in an amateur mixed martial
20arts fighting
unarmed combat sports contest unless the individual can provide
21evidence that he or she is covered by adequate health insurance.
AB76,17 22Section 17. 444.095 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,6,2423 444.095 (2) (intro.) No promoter or club may conduct a mixed martial arts
24fighting
an unarmed combat sports contest unless all of the following apply:
AB76,18 25Section 18. 444.095 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB76,7,3
1444.095 (3) (intro.) The department shall promulgate rules that establish all
2of the following with respect to mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports
3contests:
Loading...
Loading...