AB438: Bill Text

LRB-3314/1

CTS:nwn:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 438

September 23, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Colon, Pocan, Zepnick, Hintz, Zigmunt, Kleefisch, Vruwink, Richards, Cullen, Staskunas, Honadel and Seidel, cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Lehman, Plale, Cowles, Lassa, Taylor and Sullivan. Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection.

AB438,1,6 An Act to amend chapter 444 (title), 444.01 (1), 444.01 (2), 444.02, 444.03, 444.04, 444.06, 444.09 (title), 444.10 (title), 444.11, 444.12, 444.13, 444.14, 444.15 and 444.18; and to create 20.165 (1) (im), 444.01 (1m) and 444.095 of the statutes; relating to: changes in the regulation of boxing contests, regulating mixed martial arts fighting contests, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Regulation and Licensing (department) regulates boxing contests conducted in the state. No club may conduct a professional boxing contest without a license from the department. Currently, only clubs that are incorporated under the laws of this state and whose members have been residents of this state for at least one year are eligible for licensure. An applicant for licensure must pay an annual fee from $25 to $300, depending on the size of the city, village, or town in which the contest is held and the price of admission.

Current law also authorizes the department to license matchmakers, managers, referees, examining physicians, and boxers in professional boxing contests. A department-appointed inspector must be present at all professional boxing contests to see that the rules are strictly observed. A licensee authorized to conduct a professional boxing contest must insure each contestant for hospital, nursing, and medication expenses and physician's services according to an equitable fee schedule. The department is required to ban a contestant who participates in a sham or fake professional boxing contest or violates any department rule, and is authorized to require the contestant to forfeit the purse for the contest.

Also under current law, an amateur boxing contest (defined as a contest in which none of the contestants are compensated for participating) may be conducted in this state only if the contest is sanctioned by, and conducted under the rules of, the national governing body for amateur boxing.

This bill generally authorizes the department to regulate amateur and professional mixed martial arts fighting contests on the same terms as professional boxing contests, and to license promoters of boxing and mixed martial arts fighting contests on the same terms as clubs. The bill deletes the requirements that applicants for licensure be incorporated under the laws of this state and comprise only members who are residents of this state. The bill changes the license application fee to $200, or $500 in a city of more than 150,000 inhabitants, and changes the penalty for sham or fake contests to a forfeiture not to exceed $500. Fifty percent of forfeitures collected by the department are appropriated to the department for enforcement.

The bill also imposes a number of requirements on mixed martial arts fighting contests, including the following: A contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts fighting contest must be able to provide evidence that he or she is covered by adequate health insurance. No mixed martial arts fighting contest may be conducted without at least one licensed referee and at least four licensed judges. Contestants must be examined by a physician immediately before and after each match, and a physician and ambulance must be present during each match. The bill requires the department to promulgate rules for mixed martial arts fighting contests establishing: 1) qualifications for licensure of referees and judges; 2) requirements for regular health examinations for contestants; and 3) policies prohibiting the use of drugs and mandating drug testing of contestants.

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:

AB438, s. 1 Section 1. 20.165 (1) (im) of the statutes is created to read:

AB438,2,4 20.165 (1) (im) Boxing and mixed martial arts fighting; enforcement. Fifty percent of all moneys received in forfeitures imposed under s. 444.14, for enforcement of ch. 444.

AB438, s. 2 Section 2. Chapter 444 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,3,2 regulation of boxing and mixed martial arts fighting

AB438, s. 3 Section 3. 444.01 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,3,6 444.01 (1) "Amateur boxing contest" means a boxing or mixed martial arts fighting contest or exhibition in which none of the boxers or fighters are compensated for participating in the contest or exhibition.

AB438, s. 4 Section 4. 444.01 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB438,3,9 444.01 (1m) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under s. 448.04 (1) (a).

AB438, s. 5 Section 5. 444.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,3,13 444.01 (2) "Professional boxing contest" means a boxing or mixed martial arts fighting contest or exhibition in which one or more of the boxers or fighters is compensated for participating in the contest or exhibition.

AB438, s. 6 Section 6. 444.02 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,4,5 444.02 Boxing licenses, Licenses and permits. The department shall have the sole direction, management, and control of, and jurisdiction over, all professional boxing contests and all amateur mixed martial arts fighting contests conducted within the state by any promoter or club. No club or promoter may conduct professional boxing contests may be conducted or amateur mixed martial arts fighting contests within the state except under authority granted by the department and in accordance with this chapter and the rules of the department. The department may issue, and for cause limit, suspend, or revoke, a license to conduct professional boxing contests or amateur mixed martial arts fighting contests to any promoter or incorporated club formed as provided in this chapter. The department may limit the number of professional boxing contests given by any promoter or club in any city, village, or town. No professional boxing contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting contest may be conducted by any promoter or licensed club without a permit from the department. Every license shall be subject to such rules and regulations as the department prescribes. The department may reprimand promoters or clubs for violating this chapter or any rules of the department.

AB438, s. 7 Section 7. 444.03 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,4,19 444.03 Application for license; fee. No professional boxing contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting contest may be conducted by any promoter or club except by license granted to it by the department, and no club may be licensed unless it is incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin and its membership is limited to persons who have been continuous residents in the state for at least one year. An application for a license shall be in writing, addressed to the department, and verified by the promoter or by an officer of the club. An application shall be accompanied by an annual fee of $25 $200 in cities, villages, and towns of not more than 50,000 inhabitants, $50 in cities of over 50,000 and not more than 150,000 inhabitants, and $300 $500 in cities of over 150,000 inhabitants when the admission is over $1 and $50 when the admission charge is $1 or less. The application must show that the promoter or club has entered into a valid agreement for the use of the building, amphitheater, or stadium in which contests are to be held.

AB438, s. 8 Section 8. 444.04 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,5,2 444.04 Club Promoter and club reports. Within 24 hours after a promoter or club holds a professional boxing contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting contest, the club shall furnish to the department a written report, verified by the promoter or by one of its the club's officers, showing the number of tickets sold for the contest, the amount of gross proceeds, and all other information the department requires by rule to be included in the report.

AB438, s. 9 Section 9. 444.06 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,5,14 444.06 Inspectors. The department shall appoint official "inspectors," each of whom shall receive a card authorizing the inspector to act wherever the department designates. The department may be, and at least one inspector shall be present at all professional boxing contests and all amateur mixed martial arts fighting contests and see that the rules are strictly observed. An inspector shall also be present at the counting up of the gross receipts and shall immediately mail to the department the official box-office statement received from the promoter or club. Inspectors shall be paid a per diem to be set by the department, not to exceed $25 for each day on which they are actually and necessarily engaged in the performance of their duties, and shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

AB438, s. 10 Section 10. 444.09 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB438,5,16 444.09 (title) Conduct of boxing contests regulated.

AB438, s. 11 Section 11. 444.095 of the statutes is created to read:

AB438,5,21 444.095 Conduct of mixed martial arts fighting contests regulated. (1) No individual may be a contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts fighting contest unless the individual can provide evidence that he or she is covered by adequate health insurance.

AB438,5,23 (2) No promoter or club may conduct a mixed martial arts fighting contest unless all of the following apply:

AB438,5,25 (a) There is present at least one referee who is licensed by the department and at least 4 judges who are licensed by the department.

AB438,6,2 (b) A physician examines each contestant immediately before and after each match in which the contestant participates.

AB438,6,4 (c) A physician is present during each match to provide emergency care in the event of an injury.

AB438,6,6 (d) An ambulance and emergency medical services personnel with oxygen are present on the premises and equipped to transport an injured contestant.

AB438,6,8 (3) The department shall promulgate rules that establish all of the following with respect to mixed martial arts fighting contests:

AB438,6,10 (a) Qualifications and fees for licensure of referees and judges for mixed martial arts fighting contests.

AB438,6,12 (b) Requirements for regular health examinations of mixed martial arts fighting contestants, including all of the following:

AB438,6,14 1. Annual physical examinations by physicians and annual eye examinations by physicians who are board-certified ophthalmologists.

AB438,6,15 2. Annual screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

AB438,6,16 3. For female contestants, pregnancy tests before contests.

AB438,6,18 (c) Policies prohibiting contestants from using drugs, including anabolic steroids, and mandating drug testing of contestants.