SB599: Bill Text

SB599,15 Section 15. 444.06 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,6,14 444.06 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 contests and all amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests and see that the rules are strictly observed. Inspectors shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The department may require a promoter or club to pay the cost of designating additional inspectors, who may include a referee or judge performing the duties of an inspector, for an event. The department may require a promoter or club to pay the department an amount not to exceed $250 for each additional inspector designated by the department.

SB599,16 Section 16. 444.095 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,6,17 444.095 (title) Conduct of mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests regulated.

SB599,17 Section 17. 444.095 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,6,21 444.095 (1) No individual may be a contestant in an amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest unless the individual can provide evidence that he or she is covered by adequate health insurance.

SB599,18 Section 18. 444.095 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,6,24 444.095 (2) (intro.) No promoter or club may conduct a mixed martial arts fighting an unarmed combat sports contest unless all of the following apply:

SB599,19 Section 19. 444.095 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,7,3 444.095 (2) (c) A At least one physician, or more at the discretion of the department, is present during each match to provide emergency care in the event of an injury.

SB599,20 Section 20. 444.095 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,7,7 444.095 (3) (intro.) The department shall promulgate rules that establish all of the following with respect to mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests:

SB599,21 Section 21. 444.095 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,7,10 444.095 (3) (a) Qualifications and fees for licensure of referees and judges for mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests.

SB599,22 Section 22. 444.095 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,7,14 444.095 (3) (b) (intro.) Requirements for regular health examinations of mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contestants, including all of the following:

SB599,23 Section 23. 444.11 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,7,25 444.11 Licenses to matchmakers, referees, contestants, etc. The department may grant licenses upon application and the payment of the prescribed fees to matchmakers, managers, referees, boxers, mixed martial arts fighters unarmed combat sports contestants, seconds, and trainers timekeepers in professional contests and amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests. The fees to be paid per year shall be: Matchmakers and managers, $10; referees and judges, $15; examining physicians, $10; boxers and mixed martial arts fighters unarmed combat sports contestants, $40; seconds, $40; and timekeepers, $10. The department may limit, suspend, or revoke any license granted under this section or reprimand the licensee upon such cause as it deems sufficient.

SB599,24 Section 24. 444.12 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,8,6 444.12 Referee to stop contest. The referee must shall stop a professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest when either of the contestants shows a marked superiority or is apparently outclassed. The referee shall be the sole arbiter of the contest and may consult the a physician identified in s. 444.095 (2) (c) during the contest.

SB599,25 Section 25. 444.13 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,8,12 444.13 Sham contests, license revoked. Any promoter or club that conducts, holds, gives, or participates in any sham or fake professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest shall forfeit its license. That license shall be revoked by the department, and the promoter or club shall not be entitled to another license.

SB599,26 Section 26. 444.14 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,8,21 444.14 Sham contests; contestants penalized; forfeitures; hearing. The department shall ban a contestant who participates in any sham or fake professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest or violates any rule promulgated by the department, and may require the contestant, the contestant's manager, or the promoter of the contest to forfeit an amount determined by the department, but not more than $500. Fifty percent of all forfeitures collected under this section shall be deposited in the appropriation account under s. 20.165 (1) (im).

SB599,27 Section 27. 444.15 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,9,11 444.15 Reports; examination of books and officers. Whenever any promoter or club fails to make a report of any professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest at the time prescribed or whenever a report is unsatisfactory to the department, the secretary may examine the books and records of the promoter or club, may subpoena and examine, under oath, the promoter or the club's officers and other witnesses to determine the total amount of its gross receipts for any contest, and may hire an independent auditor to assist in making the determination. The secretary may require the promoter or club to pay the expenses of conducting the examination or the independent auditor's fee. If a promoter or club fails to pay the amount of expenses determined by the secretary to be due within 20 days after receiving notice of the amount, the promoter or club shall forfeit its license, be disqualified from receiving any license under this chapter, and forfeit to the state the sum of $1,000, which may be recovered by the department of justice in the name of the state.

SB599,28 Section 28. 444.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB599,9,22 444.18 Insurance on certain contestants. Any licensee authorized to conduct professional contests or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contests shall insure each contestant participating for hospital, nursing, and medication expenses and physician's and surgeon's services according to an equitable fee schedule, not to exceed in the aggregate $25,000, to be paid to, or for the use of, any contestant to compensate for injuries sustained in any such contest; and shall insure each contestant for not less than $25,000 to be paid to the contestant's estate in the event of the contestant's death as the result of participation in such professional contest or amateur mixed martial arts fighting unarmed combat sports contest.

SB599,29 Section 29. 444.22 of the statutes is created to read:

SB599,10,2 444.22 Rules. The department may promulgate any rules necessary to implement and enforce this chapter.

SB599,10,3 (End)