ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
boxing commission;
licensing; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona State
Boxing Commission (Commission) until July 1, 2011 and modifies the functions
and duties of the Commission, including expanding its regulatory authority,
allowing the issuance of license renewals and increasing insurance coverage for
boxers.
The Commission, established
in 1982, provides both physical and financial protection to participants and
persons interested in boxing. The
Commission consists of three Governor-appointed members who serve staggered
three-year terms. To perform its
day-to-day operations, the Commission appoints an Executive Director and a
part-time secretary.
The Commission licenses all
boxers, promoters, referees, judges and others involved in the sport; and takes
disciplinary action and assesses civil penalties against licensees who violate
the Commission’s statutes or rules or promoters who fail to comply with the
Department of Racing’s boxing revenue collection statutes and rules.
In 2000, a performance audit
was conducted by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), which issued three
findings including: a) the Commission needs to better ensure that participants
are physically and financially protected; b) while boxing revenue collection
has improved, collection problems persist; and c) the Commission should have
authority to regulate all nontraditional and tough man contests. The Commission agreed with all of the OAG’s
findings and intends to implement all the audit recommendations.
During the 2000 interim, the
Senate Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources and House of Representatives
Public Institutions and Universities Committees of Reference held a public
hearing to review OAG’s performance audit of the Commission. The Committees of Reference recommended
continuing the Commission for ten years.
S.B. 1113 also codifies several recommendations made by the OAG relating
to the expansion of the Commission’s regulatory authority, the authority to
issue license renewals and an increase in insurance coverage for boxers.
The budget for the Commission for FY 1999-2000 was $74, 800. According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), S.B. 1113 will have a fiscal impact associated with the proposed regulation of amateur events and licensure renewals. JLBC has indicated the impact is undeterminable at this time because figures relating to amateur events and the number of licensure renewals are difficult to measure.
1. Continues the Commission for ten years until July 1, 2011. The continuation is retroactive to July 1, 2001.
2. Authorizes the Commission to regulate amateur tough man contests and amateur nontraditional fighting contests.
3. Prohibits contestants in nontraditional fighting contests from striking with their knees or elbows unless specified by rule.
4. Permits the Commission to issue an annual license renewal if the licensee files an application for license renewal that is provided by the Commission and pays the prescribed license fee.
5. Allows a 30-day grace period for a licensee to renew an overdue license if the licensee submits, with the regular license fee, a late filing penalty fee equal to the regular license fee. Failure to apply for license renewal during the grace period requires the filing of a new license. Prohibits a licensee from conducting any activity regulated by the Commission until the Commission has renewed the license.
6. Allows the Commission to require referees, judges, matchmakers, promoters and boxers’ managers to provide fingerprints and background information prior to license renewal.
7. Increases medical insurance coverage promoters are required to obtain for boxers from $2,000 to $20,000 and life insurance coverage from $2,500 to $50,000.
8. Changes the title of Executive Secretary to Executive Director.
9. Permits the Commission to delegate licensing authority to its Executive Director.
10. Makes technical, conforming and clarifying changes.
11. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Amends the definitions of a "nontraditional fighting contest" and "tough man contest" to clarify that the Commission has the authority to regulate both professional and amateur tough man contests and nontraditional fighting contests.
2. Prohibits contestants in nontraditional fighting contests from striking with their knees or elbows unless specified by rule.
3. Reduces the required medical insurance coverage for boxers from $100,000 to $20,000 and life insurance coverage from $100,000 to $50,000.
4. Changes the title of Executive Secretary to Executive Director.
Senate Action
COM 1/24/01 DP 5-1-0-0
3RD READ 2/05/01 16-13-1-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 7, 2001