BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3315

By: Gutierrez

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Participants in the recent Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) strategic planning process identified a need for the medical advisory committee advising TDLR to have a broader focus in its consideration of combative sports-related issues and suggested that the committee's composition be altered to provide the panel with additional expertise regarding such issues. Interested parties have suggested an expansion of the medical advisory committee's membership to include not only licensed doctors, emergency medical technicians, and public members, but also licensed referees, licensed judges, and licensed boxing and mixed martial arts promoters. C.S.H.B. 3315 seeks to amend the applicable law relating to the medical advisory committee.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3315 amends the Occupations Code to change the name of the medical advisory committee appointed by the presiding officer of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to the combative sports advisory board. The bill expands the function of the board from advising the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) specifically in regard to health issues for combative sports event contestants to advising TDLR concerning issues generally relating to combative sports events and contestants.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3315 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.