BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3742

By: Goldman

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

An elimination tournament is an event format where a contestant is eliminated after losing and the winner is promoted to the next round. Currently, these are not legal under state law. Those involved in some forms of competition, such as amateur Muay Thai, have requested to hold elimination tournaments. H.B. 3742 seeks to provide the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation the discretion to allow certain elimination tournaments in Texas while also providing immunity from civil liability for ringside physicians, who serve a critical role in ensuring these tournaments are conducted safely.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3742 amends the Occupations Code to grant the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation the authority to adopt rules authorizing an elimination tournament to be conducted in Texas as a specific exception to the blanket prohibition against elimination tournaments being conducted in Texas. The bill grants a ringside physician assigned to a combative sports event who acted in good faith and without malice immunity from civil liability arising from acts within the scope of the physician's responsibilities. This immunity applies only to an action commenced on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.