By: Carona S.B. No. 618
 
  (Vo)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the elimination of the licensing and registration
  requirements for ringside physicians and timekeepers for combative
  sports events.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subdivision (20), Section 2052.002, Occupations
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
               (20)  "Ringside physician" means an individual who has
  an unrestricted and unlimited license [licensed] to practice
  medicine in this state and who, by agreement, is assigned as the
  physician for a combative sports event [registered with the
  department].
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 2052.052, Occupations
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The commission may adopt rules:
               (1)  governing boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, or
  mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions;
               (2)  establishing reasonable qualifications for an
  applicant seeking a license or registration from the department
  under this chapter;
               (3)  recognizing a sanction, medical suspension, or
  disqualification of a licensee or registrant by a combative sports
  authority in any state, provided that if licensure or registration
  is denied based on those actions, an applicant has an opportunity
  for a hearing as prescribed by rule;
               (4)  establishing selection criteria and procedures
  for the assignment of individuals who agree to act as ringside
  physicians and timekeepers for combative sports events [practice
  requirements or specialty certifications that a person licensed to
  practice medicine in this state must meet to register as a ringside
  physician];
               (5)  requiring a contestant to present with an
  application for licensure or license renewal documentation of
  recent blood test results that demonstrate whether the contestant
  is free from hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human
  immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease
  designated by commission rule and providing that a contestant's
  failure to provide the required blood test results disqualifies the
  contestant;
               (6)  providing that to participate in any event a
  contestant must be free of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus,
  human immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease
  designated by rule;
               (7)  requiring that a contestant present with an
  application for licensure or license renewal documentation of the
  results of a physical examination, including an ophthalmologic
  examination, and providing for disqualification of a contestant who
  is determined by an examining physician to be unfit;
               (8)  establishing additional responsibilities for
  promoters; and
               (9)  governing regulated amateur events.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2052.107, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2052.107.  OTHER COMBATIVE SPORTS LICENSES. Unless a
  person holds a license or registration issued under this chapter,
  the person may not act as a combative sports:
               (1)  professional contestant;
               (2)  manager of a professional contestant;
               (3)  referee;
               (4)  judge;
               (5)  second;
               (6)  [timekeeper;
               [(7)]  matchmaker;
               [(8)  ringside physician;] or
               (7) [(9)]  event coordinator.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  A disciplinary or administrative
  proceeding pending under Chapter 51 or 2052, Occupations Code, that
  is related to a violation of licensing or registration requirements
  for a timekeeper or ringside physician under Chapter 2052,
  Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, is dismissed.
         (b)  An administrative penalty assessed by the Texas
  Commission of Licensing and Regulation or the executive director of
  the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter
  2052, Occupations Code, related to a violation of Chapter 2052,
  Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the
  effective date of this Act, may be collected as provided by Chapter
  51, Occupations Code.
         (c)  The change in law made by this Act does not affect the
  pending prosecution of an offense under Chapter 2052, Occupations
  Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the effective date
  of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the offense was
  committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
  before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
  occurred before that date.
         (d)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall return
  a prorated portion of the fee paid to the department for the
  issuance or renewal of the registration or license to a person who
  holds a valid registration as a ringside physician or timekeeper
  issued under Chapter 2052, Occupations Code, as that chapter
  existed immediately before the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.