BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 618

By: Carona

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In the current regulatory structure of combative sports, a variety of participants in the industry, including ringside timekeepers and physicians, must hold a license or registration with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Interested parties contend that these licenses and registrations are redundant and unnecessary. S.B. 618 amends current law to eliminate the licensing and registration requirements for ringside physicians and timekeepers for combative sports events.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 618 amends the Occupations Code to remove combative sports timekeeper and combative sports ringside physician from the roles a person is prohibited from performing unless that person holds a license or registration. The bill redefines "ringside physician" as an individual who has an unrestricted and unlimited license to practice medicine in Texas and who, by agreement, is assigned as the physician for a combative sports event, rather than an individual who is licensed to practice medicine in Texas and who is registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The bill replaces the authority of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt rules establishing practice requirements or specialty certifications that a person licensed to practice medicine in Texas is required to meet to register as a ringside physician with the authority to adopt rules establishing selection criteria and procedures for the assignment of individuals who agree to act as ringside physicians and timekeepers for combative sports events.  

S.B. 618 dismisses a pending disciplinary or administrative proceeding that is related to a violation of licensing or registration requirements for a timekeeper or ringside physician, as the requirements existed immediately before the bill's effective date. The bill requires an administrative penalty assessed by the commission or the executive director of TDLR related to a violation of provisions relating to combative sports, as the provisions existed immediately before the bill's effective date, to be collected as provided by statutory provisions governing TDLR.  The bill requires TDLR, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, to return a prorated portion of the fee paid to TDLR for the issuance or renewal of the registration or license to a person who holds a valid registration as a ringside physician or timekeeper.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.