02/14/08 0438s

30Apr2008… 1415h

06/05/08 1967eba

2008 SESSION

08-2641

10/01

SENATE BILL 309-FN

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill allows the boxing and wrestling commission to regulate other fighting sports.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/14/08 0438s

30Apr2008… 1415h

06/05/08 1967eba

08-2641

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

261:1 Boxing and Wrestling Commission; Definitions; Membership. Amend RSA 285:1-3 to read as follows:

285:1 Definitions. In this chapter:

I. “Commission” means the boxing and wrestling commission.

II. “Promoter” means any person, club, association or corporation sponsoring a [boxing bout or a wrestling] fighting sports competition.

III. “Fighting sports” means professional boxing, and amateur and professional wrestling, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, or any other form of amateur or professional sport combat in which blows are struck that reasonably may be expected to inflict injury.

285:2 Establishment of Commission. There is hereby established a boxing and wrestling commission which shall oversee [boxing bouts and wrestling competitions] amateur and professional fighting sports in the state.

285:3 Members; Removal; Conflicts of Interest.

I. The commission shall consist of 3 members appointed by the governor and council. Members appointed by the governor and council shall have had some experience in the [sport of boxing or wrestling] fighting sports and shall be residents of the state. Members shall have no financial interest, direct or indirect, in [boxing bouts or wrestling competitions] professional fighting sports regulated by the commission.

II. A member may be removed by the governor and council only for cause in accordance with RSA 4:1.

261:2 Rulemaking. Amend RSA 285:7 to read as follows:

285:7 Rulemaking. The commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:

I. The conduct of [boxing bouts and wrestling] amateur and professional fighting sports competitions;

II. Requirements and qualifications for licenses, permits and amateur cards for persons involved in [boxing bouts or wrestling] fighting sports competitions;

III. The grounds for revocation or suspension of a license or permit, and the reinstatement of suspended licenses and permits;

IV. A fee schedule for licenses, permits and amateur cards and for the renewal of licenses and amateur cards;

V. Promoters’ bonds; and

VI. Insurance coverage required by the commission.

261:3 Reports. Amend RSA 285:8 to read as follows:

285:8 Report of the Commission. The commission shall submit a biennial report to the governor and council on or before October 1 of each even-numbered year [preceding a regular legislative session]. The report shall include a description of the commission’s activities including a financial report and recommendations for legislation deemed advisable by the commission.

261:4 Amateur Events. Amend RSA 285:9 to read as follows:

285:9 Amateur Events. All amateur [boxing bouts and wrestling] fighting sports competitions [to which admission fees are charged] shall be regulated by the commission, except those conducted by a school, college or university.

261:5 Permits; Licenses. Amend RSA 285:10 and 11 to read as follows:

285:10 Promoter Permit Required; Promoter’s Bond; Financial Interest.

I. No promoter shall arrange a [boxing bout or wrestling] professional fighting sports competition in the state without a permit from the commission. A different permit shall be required for each day of [bouts or] competitions.

II. The commission may require a promoter to produce evidence of having secured a surety bond in an amount deemed appropriate by the commission.

III. No promoter shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest in a person competing in a [bout or] fighting sports competition arranged by the promoter.

[IV. All promoters shall be residents of the state.]

285:11 Licenses Required. No person shall participate in a [boxing bout or wrestling] professional fighting sports competition as a contestant, manager, referee, judge, second or timekeeper without a license from the commission. Licenses granted by the commission shall be valid for one year from the date of issue unless revoked or suspended by the commission. The commission shall, upon application, renew any license unless good cause is shown that the license should not be renewed.

261:6 Amateur Cards. Amend RSA 285:13, II and III to read as follows:

II. The commission may issue to an amateur [boxer or wrestler] fighter an amateur card which shall be valid for one year.

III. The commission, in its sole discretion, may waive fees for amateur [boxing and wrestling] fighting sports exhibitions to the extent that the proceeds are to be distributed for charitable purposes to organizations which are exempt from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

261:7 Report; Tax. Amend RSA 285:14, I to read as follows:

I. Any promoter who sponsors a [boxing bout or wrestling] professional fighting sports competition under this chapter shall, within 72 hours after the [bout or] competition file with the commission a written report. The report shall include the number of tickets sold, the amount of gross receipts and other facts as the commission may require.

261:8 Contestants. Amend RSA 285:15 to read as follows:

285:15 Examination of Contestants. No person shall compete [as a boxer or wrestler] in professional fighting sports unless such person has been examined, not more than [5] 24 hours before, by a physician licensed to practice under the laws of this state. The physician shall be in attendance throughout the [bout] competition for which the examination was made and shall certify in writing that the contestant is physically fit to engage in the contest. The fee shall be paid by the promoter of the [bout or] fighting sports competition.

261:9 Officials; Inspectors. Amend RSA 285:18 and 19 to read as follows:

285:18 [Boxing and Wrestling] Fighting Sports Officials. The sole arbiter in the ring in all fighting sports, bouts or competitions shall be a licensed referee, who shall govern the bout or competition in accordance with rules adopted by the commission. The referee shall have full power to stop the bout or competition whenever the referee deems it advisable because of the physical condition of a contestant, when one of the contestants is clearly outclassed by an opponent, or for other sufficient reason. The referee shall have discretionary power to declare forfeited any prize, payment, or purse or any part of a prize, payment, or purse belonging to the contestants or to one of them if, in the referee’s judgment, the contestant or contestants are not or were not competing in good faith.

285:19 Deputy Inspectors. A member of the commission is not required to be present at all fighting sports competitions. If a member of the commission is not [able to be] present at [any boxing bout or wrestling] a fighting sports competition held under this chapter, the commission shall appoint a deputy inspector who shall, for the duration of the contest, have the full duties and powers of a member of the commission. Deputy inspectors shall be entitled to compensation as the commission may deem proper.

261:10 Authorization. Amend RSA 285:20 to read as follows:

285:20 Authorization by Town or City. No permit shall be issued to conduct a [boxing bout or a wrestling] professional fighting sports competition in any town or city until the town has authorized, by vote at an annual town meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose, or the city has authorized by ordinance, the holding of such [bouts or] competitions within the town or city.

261:11 Repeal. RSA 285:17, relative to the boxing bout time limit, is repealed.

261:12 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 26, 2008

Effective Date: June 26, 2008