AB308: Bill Text

LRB-0062/1

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2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Assembly BILL 308

October 6, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Strachota and Honadel, cosponsored by Senator Grothman. Referred to Committee on Homeland Security and State Affairs.

AB308,1,2 An Act to amend 444.02 (1); and to create 60.23 (34) of the statutes; relating to: authorizing a town to prohibit mixed martial arts fighting contests.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services has the sole direction, management, and control of, and jurisdiction over, all amateur and professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting contests.

MMA fighting is defined as a style of fighting that does not include fighting in which the contestants in a match use the same single form of martial arts, even if the match is part of an event comprising more than one such match and not all the matches in the event use the same single form of martial arts. MMA fighting is also defined as something which does not include a martial arts match in which the rules prohibit a contestant from striking an opponent's head with the intent to cause unconsciousness or inflict damage.

Under this bill, a town is authorized to enact and enforce an ordinance prohibiting a person from participating in, operating, maintaining, attending, or promoting an amateur or professional MMA fighting contest.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB308, s. 1 Section 1. 60.23 (34) of the statutes is created to read:

AB308,2,6 60.23 (34) Mixed martial arts fighting. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 444.02 (1), enact and enforce an ordinance prohibiting a person from participating in, operating, maintaining, attending, or promoting an amateur or professional mixed martial arts fighting contest, as those terms are defined in s. 444.01 (1g) and (4).

AB308, s. 2 Section 2. 444.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB308,2,14 444.02 (1) The Subject to s. 60.23 (34), the department shall have the sole direction, management, and control of, and jurisdiction over, all professional 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 contests 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.

AB308,2,15 (End)