SB 1456

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law, the Boxing Act, also known as the State Athletic Commission Act, the violation of which is a misdemeanor, grants the State Athletic Commission jurisdiction over all professional and amateur boxing, professional and amateur kickboxing, all forms and combinations of forms of full contact martial arts contests, including mixed martial arts, and matches or exhibitions conducted, held, or given within this state. Existing law prescribes the composition of the commission and requires the commission to appoint an executive officer. Existing law authorizes the commission to employ other personnel for the administration of the act, as specified. Existing law repeals these provisions establishing the commission, requiring it to appoint an executive officer, and authorizing it to employ other personnel on January 1, 2025. This bill would extend that repeal date to January 1, 2029. Existing law establishes the Advisory Committee on Medical and Safety Standards within the commission and requires the committee to consist of 6 licensed physicians and surgeons appointed by the commission. This bill would require the committee to include at least one licensed physician and surgeon certified in neurology by a specialty board that is a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Existing law prohibits a person from engaging in the promotion of, or participating in, a boxing or martial arts contest, match, or exhibition without a license, and requires the commission to prescribe standards as necessary for the licensure of those persons, as specified. Existing law requires an applicant for a license as a professional athlete or contestant, or for renewal of a license, to be examined by a licensed physician and surgeon, as specified. Existing regulations generally require an applicant for a license or renewal to complete various medical examinations, including specified blood tests. This bill would require the commission to establish a review and approval process for applicants or licensees who test positive for hepatitis C, as specified. The bill would preclude the applicant or licensee from being prohibited from competing on the basis of testing positive for hepatitis C if they have been approved by the commission under that review and approval process. Existing law requires a promoter to have a licensed physician approved by the commission in attendance at every contest, as specified. Existing regulations generally require the continued presence of at least 2 commission-appointed ringside physicians at all matches and an onsite ambulance staffed by at least one paramedic, as specified. This bill would require the onsite ambulance to transport to a trauma center without delay a professional or amateur fighter who requires immediate medical care as ordered by a ringside physician. Existing law requires the commission to recognize and enforce contracts between boxers or martial arts fighters and managers and between boxers or martial arts fighters and licensed clubs, as specified. Existing regulations require all contestants to be paid in full according to their contracts and prohibits the contracted purse amount paid to a boxer from being less than $100 per round. This bill would require a professional fighter licensed under the act to be entitled to a minimum purse of $200 per round fought and would authorize the commission to raise the minimum purse amount by regulation. Existing law requires the commission to establish a pension plan for professional boxers in this state and to establish the method by which the pension plan will be financed, as specified. To finance the pension plan, existing regulations require the promoter to contribute $0.88 on every ticket, except as specified, up to a maximum contribution of $4,600 per show. Existing law requires all contributions to finance the pension plan to be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to the Boxers' Pension Fund, which is continuously appropriated to be used exclusively for the purposes and administration of the pension plan. This bill would revise the above-referenced statutory provisions governing the method of financing the pension plan by, among other things, including an assessment in the amount of $1 on each ticket sold for a professional boxing contest held in the state, up to a maximum contribution of $10,000 per contest. Because the bill would increase the amount of moneys to be deposited in a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. By imposing additional requirements under the act, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.