HOUSE BILL No. 4335

 

March 12, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Robertson, Gaffney, Vagnozzi, Palsrok, Sheen and Pappageorge and referred to the Committee on Regulatory Reform.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to regulate certain forms of unarmed combat; to                            

                                                                                

    create certain commissions and to provide certain powers and                

                                                                                

    duties for certain state agencies and departments; to license               

                                                                                

    persons engaged in unarmed combat; to regulate certain persons              

                                                                                

    connected to the business of unarmed combat and persons                     

                                                                                

    conducting certain contests and exhibitions; to confer immunity             

                                                                                

    under certain circumstances; to provide for the conducting of               

                                                                                

    certain tests; to assess certain fees; to create certain funds;             

                                                                                

    to adopt rules; to provide for penalties and remedies; and to               

                                                                                

    repeal acts and parts of acts.                                              

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the                    

                                                                                

2   "unarmed combat regulatory act".                                            

                                                                                

3       Sec. 3.  As used in this act:                                               

                                                                                

4       (a) "Amateur" means a person who is not competing and has                   

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   never competed for a money prize or who is not competing and has            

                                                                                

2   not competed with or against a professional for a prize.                    

                                                                                

3       (b) "Boxing club" means an organization affiliated with USA                 

                                                                                

4   boxing.                                                                     

                                                                                

5       (c) "Commission" means the Michigan boxing commission.                      

                                                                                

6       (d) "Contestant" means any person who is competing or has                   

                                                                                

7   competed for a money prize.                                                 

                                                                                

8       (e) "Department" means the department of consumer and                       

                                                                                

9   industry services.                                                          

                                                                                

10      (f) "Good moral character" means good moral character as                    

                                                                                

11  defined in section 1 of 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41.                            

                                                                                

12      (g) "Professional" means a person who is competing or has                   

                                                                                

13  competed in unarmed combat for a money prize.                               

                                                                                

14      (h) "Physician" means that term as defined in section 17001                 

                                                                                

15  or 17501 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17001              

                                                                                

16  and 333.17501.                                                              

                                                                                

17      (i) "Promoter" means any person who produces or stages any                  

                                                                                

18  professional contest or exhibition of unarmed combat.                       

                                                                                

19      (j) "Purse" means the financial guarantee or any other                      

                                                                                

20  remuneration for which contestants are participating in a contest           

                                                                                

21  or exhibition and includes the contestant's share of any payment            

                                                                                

22  received for radio, television, or motion picture rights.                   

                                                                                

23      (k) "Ring official" means any person who performs an official               

                                                                                

24  function during the progress of a contest or exhibition of                  

                                                                                

25  unarmed combat.                                                             

                                                                                

26                                                                               (l) "Rule" means a rule promulgated under the administrative                        

                                                                                

27  procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.                  


                                                                                

1       (m) "School", "college", or "university" does not include an                

                                                                                

2   institution formed or operated principally to provide instruction           

                                                                                

3   in unarmed combat and other sports.                                         

                                                                                

4       (n) "Unarmed combat" means boxing or any form of competition                

                                                                                

5   in which a blow is usually struck which may reasonably be                   

                                                                                

6   expected to inflict injury.                                                 

                                                                                

7       Sec. 5.  (1) The Michigan unarmed combat commission,                        

                                                                                

8   consisting of 5 voting members, 4 of which are to be appointed by           

                                                                                

9   the governor, is created within the department.  A majority of              

                                                                                

10  the members appointed by the governor shall be licensees under              

                                                                                

11  this act.  Budgeting, procurement, human resources, information             

                                                                                

12  technology, and related management functions of the commission              

                                                                                

13  shall be performed by the department.  The director of the                  

                                                                                

14  department, or his or her designee, is appointed as an ex officio           

                                                                                

15  voting member of the commission.                                            

                                                                                

16      (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the 4                  

                                                                                

17  members appointed by the governor shall serve a term of 4 years.            

                                                                                

18  Of the initial members appointed under this act, the terms of 2             

                                                                                

19  of the members shall be 4 years, the term of 1 of the members               

                                                                                

20  shall be 2 years, and the term of 1 of the members shall be 1               

                                                                                

21  year.  The terms of members appointed by the governor are subject           

                                                                                

22  to the pleasure of the governor.                                            

                                                                                

23      (3) Three members of the commission constitute a quorum for                 

                                                                                

24  the exercise of the authority conferred upon the commission and a           

                                                                                

25  concurrence of at least 3 of the members is necessary to render a           

                                                                                

26  decision by the commission.                                                 

                                                                                

27      (4) A member of the commission shall not at any time during                 


                                                                                

1   his or her service as a member promote or sponsor any contest or            

                                                                                

2   exhibition of unarmed combat, or combination of those events, or            

                                                                                

3   have any financial interest in the promotion or sponsorship of              

                                                                                

4   those contests or exhibitions.  The commission shall meet on a              

                                                                                

5   regular basis, and upon request and at the discretion of the                

                                                                                

6   chair, the department shall schedule additional interim                     

                                                                                

7   meetings.                                                                   

                                                                                

8       (5) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the records of                

                                                                                

9   the commission are subject to disclosure under the freedom of               

                                                                                

10  information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.                         

                                                                                

11      (6) The regular meetings of the commission are subject to the               

                                                                                

12  open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.                       

                                                                                

13      Sec. 7.  A person who has a material financial interest in                  

                                                                                

14  any club, organization, or corporation, the main object of which            

                                                                                

15  is the holding or giving of contests or exhibitions of unarmed              

                                                                                

16  combat is not eligible for appointment to the commission.                   

                                                                                

17      Sec. 9.  (1) The commission shall elect 1 of its members as                 

                                                                                

18  the chair of the commission.  The commission may purchase and use           

                                                                                

19  a seal.  The director of the department may adopt rules for the             

                                                                                

20  administration of this act but only after first consulting with             

                                                                                

21  the commission.  The commission may request the department to               

                                                                                

22  promulgate a rule under section 38 of the administrative                    

                                                                                

23  procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.238.  The department            

                                                                                

24  shall respond in writing to any request for rule promulgating by            

                                                                                

25  the commission within 30 calendar days after a request.  The                

                                                                                

26  response shall include a reason and explanation for acceptance or           

                                                                                

27  denial of the request.  The rules shall include all of the                  


                                                                                

1   following:                                                                  

                                                                                

2       (a) Number and qualifications of ring officials required at                 

                                                                                

3   any exhibition or contest.                                                  

                                                                                

4       (b) Powers, duties, and compensation of ring officials.                     

                                                                                

5       (c) Qualifications of licensees.                                            

                                                                                

6       (d) License fees.                                                           

                                                                                

7       (e) Any necessary standards designed to accommodate federally               

                                                                                

8   imposed mandates that do not directly conflict with this act.               

                                                                                

9       (2) The commission shall deposit into the unarmed combat fund               

                                                                                

10  created in this section all money received from license fees or             

                                                                                

11  administrative fines imposed under this act.  An unarmed combat             

                                                                                

12  fund is created as a revolving fund in the department and                   

                                                                                

13  administered by the director of the department.  The money in the           

                                                                                

14  fund is to be used for the costs of administration and                      

                                                                                

15  enforcement of this act.  Money remaining in the fund at the end            

                                                                                

16  of the fiscal year shall be carried forward into the next fiscal            

                                                                                

17  year.                                                                       

                                                                                

18      (3) Members of the commission, if authorized by the chair,                  

                                                                                

19  are entitled to receive payment of not more than $50.00 as fixed            

                                                                                

20  by the commission for each full-day meeting of the commission.              

                                                                                

21      (4) The commission may affiliate with any other state or                    

                                                                                

22  national boxing commission or athletic authority.                           

                                                                                

23      (5) The commission and department are vested with management,               

                                                                                

24  control, and jurisdiction over all contests or exhibitions of               

                                                                                

25  unarmed combat to be conducted, held, or given within the state             

                                                                                

26  of Michigan.  Except for any contests or exhibitions exempt from            

                                                                                

27  this act, a contest or exhibition shall not be conducted, held,             


                                                                                

1   or given within this state except in compliance with this act.              

                                                                                

2   Any boxing or sparring contest conforming to the requirements of            

                                                                                

3   this act and to the rules of the department is considered to be a           

                                                                                

4   boxing contest and not a prize fight.                                       

                                                                                

5       Sec. 11.  (1) A contest or exhibition of unarmed combat                     

                                                                                

6   shall not be held or conducted in this state except under license           

                                                                                

7   issued by the commission or as provided for in sections 21 and              

                                                                                

8   23.                                                                         

                                                                                

9       (2) An application for a license must be in writing and                     

                                                                                

10  correctly show and define the applicant.  An application for a              

                                                                                

11  license is a request for a determination of the applicant's                 

                                                                                

12  general suitability, character, integrity, and ability to                   

                                                                                

13  participate, engage in, or be associated with contests or                   

                                                                                

14  exhibitions of unarmed combat.  The burden of proof is on the               

                                                                                

15  applicant to establish to the satisfaction of the commission and            

                                                                                

16  the department that the applicant is qualified to receive a                 

                                                                                

17  license.  By filing an application, the applicant accepts the               

                                                                                

18  risk of adverse public notice, embarrassment, criticism,                    

                                                                                

19  financial loss, or other action with respect to his or her                  

                                                                                

20  application and expressly waives any claim for damages as a                 

                                                                                

21  result of any adverse public notice, embarrassment, criticism,              

                                                                                

22  financial loss, or other action.  Any written or oral statement             

                                                                                

23  made by any member of the commission or any witness testifying              

                                                                                

24  under oath that is relevant to the application and investigation            

                                                                                

25  of the applicant is privileged, and the individual making the               

                                                                                

26  statement is immune from civil liability for libel, slander, or             

                                                                                

27  any other tort.  An applicant must demonstrate good moral                   


                                                                                

1   character.  If the applicant for a license is determined not to             

                                                                                

2   be of good moral character, the commission may approve or                   

                                                                                

3   recommend and the department may issue a license to him or her if           

                                                                                

4   the commission determines that the applicant's background does              

                                                                                

5   not demonstrate a propensity by the applicant to violate the law            

                                                                                

6   or any rules of conduct.                                                    

                                                                                

7       (3) The application must be accompanied by an annual fee to                 

                                                                                

8   be fixed by rule of the director of the department on a uniform             

                                                                                

9   scale.                                                                      

                                                                                

10      Sec. 13.  (1) Before any license for a contest or exhibition                

                                                                                

11  of unarmed combat is granted, the applicant must file a bond in             

                                                                                

12  an amount fixed by the commission but not less than $20,000.00,             

                                                                                

13  executed by the applicant as principal and by a corporation                 

                                                                                

14  qualified under the laws of this state as surety, payable to the            

                                                                                

15  state of Michigan, and conditioned upon the faithful performance            

                                                                                

16  by the applicant of the provisions of this act.  In lieu of a               

                                                                                

17  bond, the applicant may deposit with the commission a like amount           

                                                                                

18  of lawful money of the United States.  The bond must be purchased           

                                                                                

19  or the deposit must be made not less than 5 days before the                 

                                                                                

20  contest or exhibition and may be used to satisfy any obligation             

                                                                                

21  incurred by the promoter during the staging of the contest or               

                                                                                

22  exhibition upon order of the commission.  After satisfaction of             

                                                                                

23  all such obligations, the commission shall release the remainder            

                                                                                

24  of the deposit to the promoter.                                             

                                                                                

25      (2) A promoter must apply for and obtain a license from the                 

                                                                                

26  department in order to present a program of contests or                     

                                                                                

27  exhibitions of unarmed combat.                                              


                                                                                

1       (3) The license fee for holding a contest is based upon the                 

                                                                                

2   published seating capacity of the venue in which the contest is             

                                                                                

3   to be staged.  The fee schedule is as follows:                              

                                                                                

4       (a) Venues with a seating capacity of up to 1,000, $125.00.                 

                                                                                

5       (b) Venues with a seating capacity of from 1,001 to 5,000,                  

                                                                                

6   $250.00.                                                                    

                                                                                

7       (c) Venues with a seating capacity of over 5,000, $500.00.                  

                                                                                

8       Sec. 15.  (1) The director of the department, in                            

                                                                                

9   consultation with the commission, shall promulgate rules for the            

                                                                                

10  application and approval process for promoters.  The rules shall            

                                                                                

11  include at least the following:                                             

                                                                                

12      (a) An application fee sufficient to cover the costs of                     

                                                                                

13  processing, but not less than $500.00.                                      

                                                                                

14      (b) A requirement that background information be disclosed by               

                                                                                

15  the applicant who is an individual or by the principal officers             

                                                                                

16  or members and individuals having at least a 10% ownership                  

                                                                                

17  interest in the case of any other legal entity.  This information           

                                                                                

18  must include at least 2 years of federal income tax returns of              

                                                                                

19  principal officers or members and individuals having at least a             

                                                                                

20  10% ownership interest in the applicant.                                    

                                                                                

21      (c) Both a license bond and a refund bond of at least                       

                                                                                

22  $10,000.00 or a certificate of deposit purchased by the applicant           

                                                                                

23  and held in the name of the director in those amounts.                      

                                                                                

24      (d) Fingerprints of an applicant who is an individual or the                

                                                                                

25  principal officers or members and individuals having at least a             

                                                                                

26  10% ownership interest in the case of any other legal entity.               

                                                                                

27  The department shall submit the fingerprints to the criminal                


                                                                                

1   records division of the department of state police for a criminal           

                                                                                

2   history check.  The department of state police shall then forward           

                                                                                

3   the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation for a               

                                                                                

4   criminal records check.                                                     

                                                                                

5       (e) Any other relevant and material information considered                  

                                                                                

6   necessary by the director upon consultation with the commission.            

                                                                                

7       (2) As part of the approval process for promoters, the                      

                                                                                

8   applicant or his or her representative must be present at the               

                                                                                

9   commission meeting in which the application is considered.                  

                                                                                

10      Sec. 17.  (1) The commission shall deny an applicant a                      

                                                                                

11  license under this act or suspend, revoke, or take any other                

                                                                                

12  allowable action against the license of any contestant, promoter,           

                                                                                

13  ring official, or other participant who the commission determines           

                                                                                

14  has done any of the following:                                              

                                                                                

15      (a) Enters into a contract for a contest or exhibition of                   

                                                                                

16  unarmed combat in bad faith.                                                

                                                                                

17      (b) Participates in any sham or fake contest or exhibition of               

                                                                                

18  unarmed combat.                                                             

                                                                                

19      (c) Participates in a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat               

                                                                                

20  pursuant to a collusive understanding or agreement in which the             

                                                                                

21  contestant competes or terminates the contest or exhibition in a            

                                                                                

22  manner that is not based upon honest competition or the honest              

                                                                                

23  exhibition of the skill of the contestant.                                  

                                                                                

24      (d) Is determined to have failed to give his or her best                    

                                                                                

25  efforts, failed to compete honestly, or failed to give an honest            

                                                                                

26  exhibition of his or her skills in a contest or exhibition of               

                                                                                

27  unarmed combat.                                                             


                                                                                

1       (e) Is determined to have performed an act or engaged in                    

                                                                                

2   conduct that is detrimental to a contest or exhibition of unarmed           

                                                                                

3   combat including, but not limited to, any foul or unsportsmanlike           

                                                                                

4   conduct in connection with a contest or exhibition of unarmed               

                                                                                

5   combat.                                                                     

                                                                                

6       (f) Gambles on the outcome of a contest or exhibition of                    

                                                                                

7   unarmed combat.                                                             

                                                                                

8       (g) Assaults another licensee, commission member, or                        

                                                                                

9   department employee while not involved in or outside the normal             

                                                                                

10  course of a contest or exhibition.                                          

                                                                                

11      (2) Article 5 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299,                        

                                                                                

12  MCL 339.501 to 339.559, is incorporated by reference for purpose            

                                                                                

13  of any administrative actions the department, commission, or                

                                                                                

14  other person having standing to bring such an action, subject to            

                                                                                

15  the following:                                                              

                                                                                

16      (a) A reference to a board means the commission.                            

                                                                                

17      (b) A reference to article 8 means this act.                                

                                                                                

18      (c) A reference to the act or rules promulgated under the act               

                                                                                

19  means this act and rules promulgated under this act.                        

                                                                                

20      (d) A reference to article 6 means section 35.                              

                                                                                

21      (3) The department, in consultation with the commission,                    

                                                                                

22  shall promulgate rules to provide for both of the following:                

                                                                                

23      (a) The timing of drug tests for contestants.                               

                                                                                

24      (b) Specific summary suspension procedures for contestants                  

                                                                                

25  and participants in unarmed combat who test positive for drugs or           

                                                                                

26  fail to submit to a drug test, under section 37.  The rules shall           

                                                                                

27  include the following:                                                      


                                                                                

1                                                                                (i) A procedure to allow the department to place the licensee                       

                                                                                

2   upon the national suspension list.                                          

                                                                                

3       (ii) An expedited appeal process for the summary suspension.                 

                                                                                

4       (iii) A relicensing procedure following summary suspension.                  

                                                                                

5       Sec. 19.  (1) An employee of the department must be present                 

                                                                                

6   at all weigh-ins, medical examinations, contests, exhibitions,              

                                                                                

7   and matches to ensure that this act and rules promulgated under             

                                                                                

8   this act are strictly enforced.  The department employee at a               

                                                                                

9   contest, exhibition, or match shall consult with any commission             

                                                                                

10  member that is present.                                                     

                                                                                

11      (2) Each promoter shall furnish each member of the commission               

                                                                                

12  present at a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat a seat in              

                                                                                

13  the area immediately adjacent to the contest or exhibition of               

                                                                                

14  unarmed combat.                                                             

                                                                                

15      Sec. 21.  The department may issue, without the payment of a                

                                                                                

16  fee, a license to hold a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat            

                                                                                

17  between professionals under the sponsorship of a civic                      

                                                                                

18  organization or veterans' group if held for charitable purposes.            

                                                                                

19      Sec. 23.  (1) This act does not apply to the following:                     

                                                                                

20      (a) Wrestling.                                                              

                                                                                

21      (b) Contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat conducted by or               

                                                                                

22  participated in exclusively by a department or agency of the                

                                                                                

23  United States government or by a school, college, or university             

                                                                                

24  or by an association or organization composed exclusively of                

                                                                                

25  these schools, colleges, or universities if each contestant in              

                                                                                

26  the match or exhibition is an amateur.                                      

                                                                                

27      (c) Boxing elimination contests in which all of the following               


                                                                                

1   apply:                                                                      

                                                                                

2                                                                                (i) The contestants compete for prizes only in elimination                          

                                                                                

3   contests and are not also professional boxers competing in 4 or             

                                                                                

4   more rounds of nonelimination boxing.                                       

                                                                                

5       (ii) Each bout is scheduled to consist of 3 or fewer 1-minute                

                                                                                

6   rounds, with contests conducted on no more than 2 consecutive               

                                                                                

7   calendar days.                                                              

                                                                                

8       (iii) Competing contestants are prohibited from boxing for                   

                                                                                

9   more than 12 minutes on each contest day.                                   

                                                                                

10      (iv) The contestants participating in the elimination contest                

                                                                                

11  are insured by the promoter for all medical and hospital expenses           

                                                                                

12  to be paid to the contestants to cover injuries sustained in the            

                                                                                

13  contest.                                                                    

                                                                                

14      (v) A licensed physician is in attendance at ringside and the               

                                                                                

15  physician has authority to stop the contest for medical reasons.            

                                                                                

16      (vi) All contestants pass a physical examination given by a                  

                                                                                

17  licensed physician before the contest.                                      

                                                                                

18      (vii) A preliminary breath test is administered to each                      

                                                                                

19  contestant which indicates a blood alcohol content of .02% or               

                                                                                

20  less.                                                                       

                                                                                

21      (viii) The promoter conducts the elimination contest in                       

                                                                                

22  compliance with the following:                                              

                                                                                

23      (A) A contestant who has lost by a technical knockout is not                

                                                                                

24  permitted to compete again for a period of 30 calendar days or              

                                                                                

25  until the contestant has submitted to the promoter the results of           

                                                                                

26  a physical examination equivalent to that required of                       

                                                                                

27  professional boxers.                                                        


                                                                                

1       (B) The ringside physician examines a contestant who has been               

                                                                                

2   knocked out in an elimination contest or whose fight has been               

                                                                                

3   stopped by the referee because he or she received hard blows to             

                                                                                

4   the head that made him or her defenseless or incapable of                   

                                                                                

5   continuing immediately after the knockout or stoppage.  The                 

                                                                                

6   ringside physician may recommend post-fight neurological                    

                                                                                

7   examinations, which may include computerized axial tomography               

                                                                                

8   (CAT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to be performed            

                                                                                

9   on the contestant immediately after the contestant leaves the               

                                                                                

10  location of the contest.  The promoter shall not permit the                 

                                                                                

11  contestant to compete until a physician has certified that the              

                                                                                

12  contestant is fit to compete.  If the physician recommended                 

                                                                                

13  further neurological examinations, the promoter shall not permit            

                                                                                

14  the contestant to compete until the promoter receives copies of             

                                                                                

15  examination reports demonstrating that the contestant is fit to             

                                                                                

16  compete.                                                                    

                                                                                

17      (C) The promoter requires that a contestant who has sustained               

                                                                                

18  a severe injury or knockout in an elimination contest be examined           

                                                                                

19  by a physician.  The promoter shall not permit the contestant to            

                                                                                

20  compete until the physician has certified that the contestant has           

                                                                                

21  fully recovered.                                                            

                                                                                

22      (D) The promoter does not permit a contestant to compete in                 

                                                                                

23  an elimination contest for a period of not less than 60 days if             

                                                                                

24  he or she has been knocked out or has received excessive hard               

                                                                                

25  blows to the head that required the fight to be stopped.                    

                                                                                

26      (E) A contestant who has been knocked out twice in a period                 

                                                                                

27  of 3 months or who has had excessive head blows causing a fight             


                                                                                

1   to be stopped is not permitted by a promoter to participate in an           

                                                                                

2   elimination contest for a period of not less than 120 days from             

                                                                                

3   the second knockout or stoppage.                                            

                                                                                

4       (F) A contestant who has been knocked out or had excessive                  

                                                                                

5   hard blows to the head causing a fight to be stopped 3 times                

                                                                                

6   consecutively in a period of 12 months is not permitted by a                

                                                                                

7   promoter to participate in an elimination contest for a period of           

                                                                                

8   1 year from the third knockout.                                             

                                                                                

9       (G) Before resuming competition after any of the periods of                 

                                                                                

10  rest prescribed in sub-subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F), a                   

                                                                                

11  promoter requires the contestant to produce a certification by a            

                                                                                

12  physician stating that the contestant is fit to take part in an             

                                                                                

13  elimination contest.                                                        

                                                                                

14      (2) As part of the physical examination given before the                    

                                                                                

15  boxing elimination contest, the licensed physician or other                 

                                                                                

16  trained person shall administer a preliminary breath test in                

                                                                                

17  compliance with standards imposed in rules promulgated by the               

                                                                                

18  department of state police regarding equipment calibration and              

                                                                                

19  methods of administration.  The promoter shall keep a log of                

                                                                                

20  preliminary breath test results of contestants on file at its               

                                                                                

21  place of business for at least 3 years after the date of                    

                                                                                

22  administration of the test.  These results shall be made                    

                                                                                

23  available to law enforcement officials upon request.                        

                                                                                

24      (3) A boxing elimination contest held pursuant to this                      

                                                                                

25  section is not considered to be in violation of the law.                    

                                                                                

26      Sec. 25.  (1) A boxing club, physician, referee, ring                       

                                                                                

27  official, judge, matchmaker, timekeeper, announcer, professional            


                                                                                

1   boxer, unarmed combat contestant, or manager, or a second of                

                                                                                

2   those persons, shall obtain a participant license from the                  

                                                                                

3   department before participating either directly or indirectly in            

                                                                                

4   a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat.                                  

                                                                                

5       (2) An application for a participant license shall be in                    

                                                                                

6   writing, shall be verified by the applicant, and shall set forth            

                                                                                

7   those facts requested by and conform to the rules promulgated by            

                                                                                

8   the department.                                                             

                                                                                

9       (3) The department may issue a license with limitations.                    

                                                                                

10      (4) The department shall issue a passport with each                         

                                                                                

11  professional contestant's license.                                          

                                                                                

12      (5) The commission has standing to contest the issuance or                  

                                                                                

13  nonissuance of an exhibition or other license.                              

                                                                                

14      Sec. 27.  (1) The department shall issue a temporary license                

                                                                                

15  to officiate as a judge, referee, timekeeper, or announcer at an            

                                                                                

16  international, national, or regional amateur boxing or unarmed              

                                                                                

17  combat tournament to an applicant who meets all of the                      

                                                                                

18  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

19      (a) The applicant is not a resident of this state.                          

                                                                                

20      (b) The applicant demonstrates that he or she possesses                     

                                                                                

21  either a valid license to officiate as an amateur boxing or                 

                                                                                

22  unarmed combat judge, referee, timekeeper, or announcer in                  

                                                                                

23  another state or foreign country or actual experience as an                 

                                                                                

24  amateur boxing or unarmed combat judge, referee, timekeeper, or             

                                                                                

25  announcer.                                                                  

                                                                                

26      (2) A temporary license issued under this section is valid                  

                                                                                

27  for a period of not more than 10 days from the date of issuance.            


                                                                                

1       Sec. 29.  (1) A person seeking a license under this act as a                

                                                                                

2   judge or referee may be required to satisfactorily pass an                  

                                                                                

3   examination acceptable to the department.                                   

                                                                                

4       (2) A person seeking a license under this act as a judge,                   

                                                                                

5   referee, or contestant shall pass a physical examination                    

                                                                                

6   acceptable to the department and the commission.                            

                                                                                

7       (3) Until the expiration of 1 year after the effective date                 

                                                                                

8   of this act, the department shall issue an equivalent license               

                                                                                

9   without an examination to a person who is licensed in any                   

                                                                                

10  capacity under former article 8 of the occupational code, 1980              

                                                                                

11  PA 299, on the effective date of this act upon application on a             

                                                                                

12  form provided by the department.                                            

                                                                                

13      Sec. 31.  (1) In addition to the requirements of section                    

                                                                                

14  25(2), a person seeking a license as a professional referee shall           

                                                                                

15  unofficially referee a minimum of 300 rounds of amateur                     

                                                                                

16  competitive or noncompetitive unarmed combat in a facility that             

                                                                                

17  conducts an active unarmed combat program.                                  

                                                                                

18      (2) After a person has successfully completed the                           

                                                                                

19  requirements of section 25(2) and subsection (1), the department            

                                                                                

20  shall issue the person a limited license as a referee.  Before              

                                                                                

21  the person is issued a full license as a referee, the person                

                                                                                

22  shall complete all of the following:                                        

                                                                                

23      (a) Officiate not fewer than 12 4-round preliminary                         

                                                                                

24  contests.                                                                   

                                                                                

25      (b) Officiate not fewer than 6 6-round preliminary contests.                

                                                                                

26      (c) Officiate not fewer than 4 8-round preliminary contests.                

                                                                                

27      (3) After the requirements of subsection (2)(a) to (c) have                 


                                                                                

1   been completed, the commission and the department shall review              

                                                                                

2   and evaluate the applicant's work.                                          

                                                                                

3       Sec. 33.  (1) In addition to the requirements of section                    

                                                                                

4   25(2), a person seeking a license as a professional judge shall             

                                                                                

5   score, unofficially, not fewer than 200 rounds of professional              

                                                                                

6   unarmed combat.  In order to fulfill the requirements of this               

                                                                                

7   subsection, an applicant shall only unofficially judge contests             

                                                                                

8   that are approved by the commission for that purpose.  An                   

                                                                                

9   applicant shall not receive compensation for judging contests or            

                                                                                

10  exhibitions of unarmed combat under this subsection.  Scorecards            

                                                                                

11  shall be transmitted to the department and the commission for               

                                                                                

12  review and evaluation.                                                      

                                                                                

13      (2) An employee authorized by the department or the                         

                                                                                

14  commission shall complete a standardized evaluation sheet for               

                                                                                

15  each contest or exhibition of unarmed combat judged by a                    

                                                                                

16  licensee.  The commission shall periodically review the                     

                                                                                

17  evaluation sheets.                                                          

                                                                                

18      Sec. 35.  (1) The department may suspend, revoke, or limit a                

                                                                                

19  participant license issued under this act for a violation of this           

                                                                                

20  act or rules promulgated under this act after administrative                

                                                                                

21  action under section 17.  The commission, in consultation with              

                                                                                

22  the department, shall conclude license proceedings within 30 days           

                                                                                

23  after the alleged violation or 30 days after a summary                      

                                                                                

24  suspension, if applicable.                                                  

                                                                                

25      (2) Upon receipt of an application for reinstatement and the                

                                                                                

26  payment of a fine prescribed by the commission, the commission              

                                                                                

27  may reinstate a revoked license or lift a suspension.  If                   


                                                                                

1   disciplinary action is taken against a person under this act that           

                                                                                

2   does not relate to a contest or exhibition of unarmed combat, the           

                                                                                

3   commission may, in lieu of suspending or revoking a license,                

                                                                                

4   prescribe an administrative fine.  If disciplinary action is                

                                                                                

5   taken against a person under this act that relates to the                   

                                                                                

6   preparation for a contest or an exhibition of unarmed combat, the           

                                                                                

7   occurrence of a contest or an exhibition of unarmed combat, or              

                                                                                

8   any other action taken in conjunction with a contest or an                  

                                                                                

9   exhibition of unarmed combat, the commission may prescribe an               

                                                                                

10  administrative fine in an amount not to exceed 100% of the share            

                                                                                

11  of the purse to which the holder of the license is entitled for             

                                                                                

12  the contest or exhibition.  This administrative fine may be                 

                                                                                

13  imposed in addition to or in lieu of any other disciplinary                 

                                                                                

14  action that is taken against the person by the commission.                  

                                                                                

15      (3) If an administrative fine is imposed under this section,                

                                                                                

16  the commission may recover the costs of the proceeding, including           

                                                                                

17  investigative costs and attorney fees.                                      

                                                                                

18      (4) A department employee, in consultation with any                         

                                                                                

19  commission member present, may issue an order to withhold the               

                                                                                

20  purse for up to 48 hours due to a violation of this act or a rule           

                                                                                

21  promulgated under this act.  During that 48-hour time period, the           

                                                                                

22  commission may convene a special meeting to determine if the                

                                                                                

23  action of the department employee was warranted.  If the                    

                                                                                

24  commission determines that the action was warranted, the                    

                                                                                

25  department shall offer to hold an administrative hearing as soon            

                                                                                

26  as practicable but within at least 7 calendar days.                         

                                                                                

27      Sec. 37.  (1) At the request of an authorized employee of                   


                                                                                

1   the department or of the ringside physician, a contestant or                

                                                                                

2   participant in a professional or amateur contest or exhibition of           

                                                                                

3   unarmed combat shall submit to a test of body fluids to determine           

                                                                                

4   the presence of drugs.                                                      

                                                                                

5       (2) The promoter is responsible for the cost of the testing                 

                                                                                

6   performed under this section.                                               

                                                                                

7       (3) Either of the following is grounds for summary suspension               

                                                                                

8   under rules promulgated under section 17(3) of the individual's             

                                                                                

9   license:                                                                    

                                                                                

10      (a) A test resulting in a finding of the presence of drugs.                 

                                                                                

11      (b) The refusal of a contestant to submit to the drug testing               

                                                                                

12  ordered by an authorized person.                                            

                                                                                

13      Sec. 39.  (1) A contestant participating in an unarmed                      

                                                                                

14  combat contest or exhibition shall be insured for not less than             

                                                                                

15  $50,000.00 for medical and hospital expenses to be paid to the              

                                                                                

16  contestant to cover injuries sustained in the contest and for not           

                                                                                

17  less than $50,000.00 to be paid in accordance with the statutes             

                                                                                

18  of descent and distribution of personal property if the                     

                                                                                

19  contestant should die as a result of injuries received in an                

                                                                                

20  unarmed combat contest or exhibition.                                       

                                                                                

21      (2) A promoter shall pay the deductible regarding any medical               

                                                                                

22  or hospital expenses for a contestant's injuries.                           

                                                                                

23      Sec. 41.  (1) A professional contest or exhibition of                       

                                                                                

24  unarmed combat involving boxing shall be of not more than 10                

                                                                                

25  rounds in length, except a contest or exhibition of unarmed                 

                                                                                

26  combat involving boxing which involves a national or                        

                                                                                

27  international championship may last not more than 12 rounds in              


                                                                                

1   the determination of the department.  The contestants shall wear            

                                                                                

2   during a contest gloves weighing at least 6 ounces each.  Rounds            

                                                                                

3   shall be not longer than 3 minutes, with not less than 1-minute             

                                                                                

4   rest between rounds.                                                        

                                                                                

5       (2) A contestant or participant in a professional or amateur                

                                                                                

6   contest or exhibition of unarmed combat involving boxing shall be           

                                                                                

7   certified to be in proper physical condition by a licensed                  

                                                                                

8   physician before participating in a contest or exhibition of                

                                                                                

9   unarmed combat involving boxing.  The department shall designate            

                                                                                

10  any medical test that may be required to determine if the                   

                                                                                

11  individual is in proper physical condition.                                 

                                                                                

12      Sec. 43.  (1) A physician shall be in attendance at each                    

                                                                                

13  contest or exhibition of unarmed combat.  The physician shall               

                                                                                

14  observe the physical condition of the contestants and advise the            

                                                                                

15  referee or judges with regard to the health of those                        

                                                                                

16  contestants.  The physician shall examine each contestant before            

                                                                                

17  entering the ring.                                                          

                                                                                

18      (2) The physician shall file with the commission the report                 

                                                                                

19  of the physical examination of a contestant not later than 24               

                                                                                

20  hours after termination of the contest or exhibition of unarmed             

                                                                                

21  combat.                                                                     

                                                                                

22      (3) If, in the opinion of the physician, the health or safety               

                                                                                

23  of a contestant requires that the contest or exhibition of                  

                                                                                

24  unarmed combat in which he or she is participating be terminated,           

                                                                                

25  the physician shall notify the referee.  The referee shall                  

                                                                                

26  terminate the contest or exhibition of unarmed combat.                      

                                                                                

27      Sec. 45.  (1) If a contestant or participant loses                          


                                                                                

1   consciousness during or as a result of a contest or exhibition of           

                                                                                

2   unarmed combat in which he or she participates, he or she shall             

                                                                                

3   not again be eligible to participate in a contest or exhibition             

                                                                                

4   of unarmed combat in this state unless examined by a physician              

                                                                                

5   appointed by the commission and unless the physician certifies              

                                                                                

6   the contestant's or participant's fitness to participate.                   

                                                                                

7       (2) The contestant or participant shall pay the cost of the                 

                                                                                

8   examination conducted under subsection (1).                                 

                                                                                

9       Sec. 47.  The following acts and parts of acts are                          

                                                                                

10  repealed:                                                                   

                                                                                

11      (a) Article 8 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299,                        

                                                                                

12  MCL 339.801 to 339.814.                                                     

                                                                                

13      (b) Section 49 of the state license fee act, 1979 PA 152,                   

                                                                                

14  MCL 338.2249.                                                               

                                                                                

15      Sec. 49.  This act takes effect January 1, 2004.                            

                                                                                

16      Sec. 51.  This act does not take effect unless Senate Bill                  

                                                                                

17  No. _____ or House Bill No. 4336 (request no. 02512'03 a) of the            

                                                                                

18  92nd Legislature is enacted into law.