BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 1670
By: Lucio (Rodriguez)
May 17, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Texas Boxing and Wrestling Act (Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S.)
governs the sport of kickboxing, wrestling, and boxing. The current
law does not address elimination tournaments. The Department of
Licensing and Regulation has adopted rules related to elimination
tournaments, but it is uncertain whether the department has the
authority to promulgate these rules. An attorney general's opinion
has been requested on this matter.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1670 includes certain regulatory measures for
elimination tournaments in the Texas Boxing and Wrestling Act.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 1-11, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S. (Texas
Boxing and Wrestling Act), by designating the sections as Article
1 and by adding a heading, as follows:

                 ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 2. Amends Section 3, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., by adding
Subdivisions (11)-(16), to define "elimination tournament boxing
promoter," "elimination tournament," "elimination tournament
contestant," "championship tournament," "regional tournament," and
"local tournament."

SECTION 3. Amends Section 6A, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., to make a
conforming change.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 7, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., to require
the promoting, conducting, or maintaining of boxing matches,
contests, or exhibitions, when conducted by law enforcement
organizations, to be exempt from the licensing and bonding
provisions of this Act. Provides an exception from certain
conditions for elimination tournaments subject to Article 2 of this
Act wherein an admission fee is charged. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 8, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (g), (h), and (i), as
follows:

     (a) Prohibits a person from acting as an elimination
     tournament boxing promoter until the person has been licensed
     by the Department of Licensing and Regulation (department)
     under this Act.
     
     (g) Requires the application for an elimination tournament
     boxing promoter's license to be made on a form furnished by
     the commissioner of licensing and regulation or a designated
     representative (commissioner) and to be accompanied by certain
     items.
     
     (h) Provides that the bonding and insurance requirements of
     Subsection (g) of this section apply only to an elimination
     tournament boxing promoter promoting certain elimination
     tournaments.
     
     (i) Prohibits the annual fee for an elimination tournament
     boxing promoter license from exceeding $1000.
     
     SECTION 6.     Amends Section 11, Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), to authorize the
department to audit a report filed under Subsection (a) of this
section made by a person conducting an elimination tournament under
this section. Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 7. Amends Article 8501-1, V.T.C.S., by adding Article 2,
as follows:

               ARTICLE 2. ELIMINATION TOURNAMENTS

     Sec. 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS. (a) Authorizes an elimination
     tournament to only be held as a one-night or two-night event.
     
     (b) Prohibits an elimination tournament contestant from
       participating in more than one match during the first night
       of a two-night elimination tournament.
       
       (c) Prohibits an elimination tournament contestant in a
       championship tournament from participating in more than two
       matches during the first night of a two-night championship
       tournament.
       
       (d) Authorizes an elimination tournament contestant, subject
       to the medical restrictions of Section 17 of this Act, to
       fight any number of matches on the second night of a two-night elimination tournament.
       
       (e) Authorizes the elimination tournament boxing promoter to
       allow an elimination tournament contestant who failed to win
       a match during the first night of a two-night elimination
       tournament to compete during the second night.
       
       (f) Prohibits an elimination tournament contestant who is
       knocked out during an elimination tournament from continuing
       to compete in an elimination tournament.
       
       (g) Provides that the standing-eight-count and the three-knock-down rules apply to an elimination tournament.
       
       (h) Provides that a match in an elimination tournament
       consists of three rounds with each round lasting 60 seconds.
       Provides that there must be a minimum interval of 60 seconds
       between each round of a match.
       
       (i) Requires each elimination tournament contestant to be
       matched randomly with an opponent from the same weight
       category during the preliminary round of an elimination
       tournament.
       
       Sec. 16. ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT BOXING PROMOTER'S
     RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) Sets forth provisions an elimination
     tournament boxing promoter shall require of each elimination
     tournament contestant.
     
     (b) Provides that a local, regional, or championship
       elimination tournament is not subject to Subsection
       (a)(2)(A) of this section if an elimination tournament
       boxing promoter notifies, under the rules of the department,
       the commissioner of the decision not to use approved
       headgear.
       
       (c) Requires an elimination tournament boxing promoter to
       provide a ringside physician for an elimination tournament.
       
       Sec. 17. ELIMINATION  TOURNAMENT RINGSIDE PHYSICIAN'S
     RESPONSIBILITIES. Sets forth requirements for the ringside
     physician at an elimination tournament.
     
     Sec. 18. PROOF OF NEGATIVE PREGNANCY TEST REQUIRED. Prohibits
     a female elimination tournament contestant from participating
     in an elimination tournament unless she provides the ringside
     physician with proof of a negative result pregnancy test.
     
     Sec. 19. WEIGHT CATEGORIES. (a) Prohibits an elimination
     tournament contestant from competing in a weight category
     other than a category provided in this section.
     
     (b) Sets forth the weight categories for an elimination
       tournament.
       
       (c) Authorizes an elimination tournament contestant whose
       weight is within three percent of the minimum weight of the
       next heavier weight category to compete in that heavier
       weight category.
       
       Sec. 20. RING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Requires competition in an
     elimination tournament to take place in a square ring with
     sides no less than 16 feet in length and no more than 24 feet
     in length.
     
     (b) Requires the floor of the ring to be 3/4-inch thick and
       to be padded with one-inch thick closed-cell foam material.
       
       SECTION 8.   Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 9. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

S.B. 1670 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on
May 17, 1995.  S.B. 1670 was reported favorably without amendment,
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent
to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote
of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.