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.