78R5168 EMT-D

By:  Wilson                                                       H.B. No. 1572



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of certain combative sports.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 2052.253, Occupations Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	Sec. 2052.253.  GENERAL RULES [KICKBOXING].  (a) A 
professional combative sport [kickboxing] event must be fought on 
the basis of the contestants' best efforts.
	(b)  A contestant must wear four-ounce boxing gloves, unless 
the commissioner by rule requires or permits a contestant to wear 
heavier gloves.
	(c)  A contestant may deliver blows with a closed-fist to any 
part of the body, except the kidneys and the spine.  A closed-fist 
may not be used to deliver blows to the head if one or both of the 
contestants is on the ground.
	(d)  A contestant may deliver blows with the knee to any part 
of the body except the kidneys, spine, and head.
	(e)  Subsections (c) and (d) do not prohibit a person from 
adopting rules that prohibit the use of a blow permitted by those 
subsections in a particular competition of a combative sport.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.