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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to regulation of certain combative sports activities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2052.002(20), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(20) "Ringside physician" means an individual |
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licensed to practice medicine in this state who is assigned as the |
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physician for a combative sports event [registered with the
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department]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2052.052(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may adopt rules: |
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(1) governing boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, or |
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mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions; |
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(2) establishing reasonable qualifications for an |
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applicant seeking a license or registration from the department |
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under this chapter; |
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(3) recognizing a sanction, medical suspension, or |
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disqualification of a licensee or registrant by a combative sports |
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authority in any state, provided that if licensure or registration |
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is denied based on those actions, an applicant has an opportunity |
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for a hearing as prescribed by rule; |
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(4) establishing selection criteria and procedures |
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for the assignment of ringside physicians and timekeepers for |
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combative sports events [practice requirements or specialty
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certifications that a person licensed to practice medicine in this
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state must meet to register as a ringside physician]; |
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(5) requiring a contestant to present with an |
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application for licensure or license renewal documentation of |
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recent blood test results that demonstrate whether the contestant |
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is free from hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human |
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immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease |
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designated by commission rule and providing that a contestant's |
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failure to provide the required blood test results disqualifies the |
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contestant; |
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(6) providing that to participate in any event a |
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contestant must be free of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, |
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human immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease |
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designated by rule; |
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(7) requiring that a contestant present with an |
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application for licensure or license renewal documentation of the |
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results of a physical examination, including an ophthalmologic |
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examination, and providing for disqualification of a contestant who |
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is determined by an examining physician to be unfit; |
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(8) establishing additional responsibilities for |
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promoters; and |
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(9) governing regulated amateur events. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2052.107, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2052.107. OTHER COMBATIVE SPORTS LICENSES. Unless a |
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person holds a license or registration issued under this chapter, |
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the person may not act as a combative sports: |
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(1) professional contestant; |
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(2) manager of a professional contestant; |
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(3) referee; |
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(4) judge; |
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(5) second; |
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(6) [timekeeper;
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[(7)] matchmaker; |
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[(8) ringside physician;] or |
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(7) [(9)] event coordinator. |
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SECTION 4. (a) A disciplinary or administrative proceeding |
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pending under Chapter 51 or 2052, Occupations Code, that is related |
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to a violation of licensing or registration requirements for a |
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timekeeper or ringside physician under Chapter 2052, Occupations |
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Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act is dismissed. |
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(b) An administrative penalty assessed by the Texas |
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Commission of Licensing and Regulation or the executive director of |
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the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter |
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2052, Occupations Code, related to a violation of Chapter 2052, |
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Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, may be collected as provided by Chapter |
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51, Occupations Code. |
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(c) The change in law made by this Act does not affect the |
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pending prosecution of an offense under Chapter 2052, Occupations |
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Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the offense was |
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committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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occurred before that date. |
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(d) Not later than November 1, 2013, the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation shall return a prorated portion of the fee |
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paid to the department for the issuance or renewal of the |
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registration or license to a person who holds a valid registration |
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as a ringside physician or timekeeper issued under Chapter 2052, |
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Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |