BILL ANALYSIS
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the Occupations Code requires licensing for almost all the pertinent parties in a combative sports event e.g., contestant, manager, referee, judge, timekeeper, etc. The sole exception to this requirement are event coordinators. Event coordinators provide a valuable service for promoters by serving as the liaison to the local market, however, if done incorrectly, their actions may jeopardize the promoter's license. When a licensed party violates regulation, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) can assess an administrative penalty, or if the violation is egregious enough, the department can revoke the license. Event coordinators, who fall outside this regulation, are not subject to any type of administrative recourse. The inclusion of event coordinators would bring accountability to every level of the combative sports arena.
H.B. 1293 will add event coordinator in the list of persons who must have a license or registration issued in order to participate in a combative sports event.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 3 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1293 defines the term event coordinator and includes them in the list of persons who are required to have a license or be registered in order to participate in a combative sports event. The bill also mandates that the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopt rules necessary to implement the changes no later than December 1, 2007. Lastly, the bill does not require a person to hold an event coordinator license before January 1, 2008.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.