House File 2646 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
REGULATION AND LABOR
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 543)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the regulation of professional unarmed combat
2 fighting, prohibiting amateur unarmed combat fighting, and
3 providing for fees and penalties.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 5399HV 81
6 kh/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 90A.1, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new subsection:
1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. "Boxing" or "wrestling" means any
1 4 kind of boxing, wrestling, or unarmed combat fighting activity
1 5 that is considered a professional match or activity as set
1 6 forth in subsection 5.
1 7 Sec. 2. Section 90A.1, subsection 5, Code 2005, is amended
1 8 to read as follows:
1 9 5. "Professional boxing or wrestling match" means a boxing
1 10 or wrestling or professional unarmed combat fighting contest
1 11 or exhibition open to the public in this state for which the
1 12 contestants are paid or awarded a prize for their
1 13 participation.
1 14 Sec. 3. Section 90A.1, Code 2005, is amended by adding the
1 15 following new subsection:
1 16 NEW SUBSECTION. 5A. "Professional unarmed combat
1 17 fighting" means mixed martial arts fighting, extreme fighting,
1 18 ultimate fighting, or shoot fighting.
1 19 Sec. 4. Section 90A.2, subsection 1, Code 2005, is amended
1 20 to read as follows:
1 21 1. A person shall not act as a promoter of a professional
1 22 boxing or wrestling or professional unarmed combat fighting
1 23 match, contest, event, or exhibition without first obtaining a
1 24 license from the commissioner. This subsection shall not
1 25 apply to a person distributing a closed=circuit, pay=per=view,
1 26 or similarly distributed signal to a person acting as a
1 27 promoter or to a person viewing the signal in a private
1 28 residence.
1 29 Sec. 5. Section 90A.2, Code 2005, is amended by adding the
1 30 following new subsection:
1 31 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. Each application for a professional
1 32 unarmed combat fighting license presented by a promoter shall
1 33 be accompanied by a one thousand dollar license fee. Fees
1 34 collected under this subsection shall be considered repayment
1 35 receipts and shall be used for payment of expenses to
2 1 administer and regulate unarmed combat fighting contests,
2 2 matches, events, and exhibitions.
2 3 Sec. 6. Section 90A.3, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2005, are
2 4 amended to read as follows:
2 5 1. Each professional boxer and professional unarmed combat
2 6 fighter residing in Iowa shall register with the commissioner.
2 7 The registration application shall be in the form prescribed
2 8 by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by the fee
2 9 established by rule by the commissioner. The commissioner
2 10 shall establish by rule a registration fee of not less than
2 11 one hundred dollars for any unarmed combat fighter seeking to
2 12 participate in a professional unarmed combat fighting match,
2 13 contest, event, or exhibition held in Iowa. The registration
2 14 information required by the commissioner shall include, but is
2 15 not limited to, the following:
2 16 a. The boxer's or professional unarmed combat fighter's
2 17 name and address.
2 18 b. The boxer's or professional unarmed combat fighter's
2 19 gender.
2 20 c. The boxer's or professional unarmed combat fighter's
2 21 date of birth.
2 22 d. The boxer's or professional unarmed combat fighter's
2 23 social security number or, if a foreign boxer or professional
2 24 unarmed combat fighter, any similar citizen identification
2 25 number or professional boxer or professional unarmed combat
2 26 fighter number from the country of residence of the boxer or
2 27 professional unarmed combat fighter.
2 28 e. The boxer's personal identification number assigned to
2 29 the boxer by a professional boxing registry certified by the
2 30 association of boxing commissions if the boxer is registered
2 31 with a registry. If a professional unarmed combat fighter
2 32 registering with the commissioner pursuant to this section has
2 33 been assigned a personal identification number by a
2 34 professional unarmed combat fighter registry certified by a
2 35 professional unarmed combat fighter association or commission,
3 1 the professional unarmed combat fighter shall submit to the
3 2 commissioner the identification number assigned to the
3 3 professional unarmed combat fighter by the registry.
3 4 f. Two copies of a recent photograph of the boxer or
3 5 professional unarmed combat fighter.
3 6 g. An official government=issued photo identification
3 7 containing the boxer's or professional unarmed combat
3 8 fighter's photograph and social security number or similar
3 9 foreign identification number.
3 10 2. The commissioner shall issue an identification card to
3 11 a boxer or professional unarmed combat fighter registered
3 12 pursuant to this chapter. The identification card shall
3 13 contain a recent photograph, the boxer's or professional
3 14 unarmed combat fighter's social security number or similar
3 15 foreign identification number, and a personal identification
3 16 number assigned to the boxer by a boxing registry or a
3 17 personal identification number assigned the professional
3 18 unarmed combat fighter if the professional unarmed combat
3 19 fighter submitted such a number to the commissioner in
3 20 accordance with subsection 1, paragraph "e".
3 21 Sec. 7. Section 90A.5, subsection 1, paragraphs c through
3 22 h, Code 2005, are amended to read as follows:
3 23 c. A boxer or professional unarmed combat fighter fails to
3 24 pass a prefight physical examination.
3 25 d. A match promoter permits a nonregistered boxer or
3 26 professional unarmed combat fighter to participate in a
3 27 professional boxing or professional unarmed combat fighting
3 28 match.
3 29 e. A match promoter permits a person whose license,
3 30 registration, or authority, issued pursuant to this chapter,
3 31 is under suspension to participate in a boxing or professional
3 32 unarmed combat fighting event.
3 33 f. A match promoter, or professional boxer, or
3 34 professional unarmed combat fighter is under suspension by any
3 35 other state boxing or professional unarmed combat fighting
4 1 regulatory organization.
4 2 g. A match promoter, or professional boxer, or
4 3 professional unarmed combat fighter is under suspension in any
4 4 state.
4 5 h. A match promoter, professional boxer, professional
4 6 unarmed combat fighter, or participant is in violation of
4 7 rules adopted pursuant to section 90A.7.
4 8 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION. 90A.13 ATTENDANCE AGE REQUIREMENTS.
4 9 Attendance at any professional boxing or wrestling match is
4 10 limited to individuals eighteen years of age or older.
4 11 However, if liquor or beer is sold or served on the premises
4 12 in which the match is held, attendance at any professional
4 13 boxing or wrestling match is limited to individuals twenty=one
4 14 years of age or older.
4 15 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION. 90A.14 AMATEUR UNARMED COMBAT
4 16 FIGHTING PROHIBITED == PENALTY.
4 17 1. Amateur unarmed combat fighting contests, matches,
4 18 events, or exhibitions are prohibited in this state.
4 19 2. A person who acts as an amateur unarmed combat fighting
4 20 match promoter in violation of this section is subject to a
4 21 civil penalty of twenty thousand dollars per violation.
4 22 3. As used in this section:
4 23 a. "Amateur unarmed combat fighting" means mixed martial
4 24 arts activities which include shoot fighting, extreme
4 25 fighting, and ultimate fighting.
4 26 b. "Amateur unarmed combat fighting promoter" means a
4 27 person or business that does at least one of the following:
4 28 (1) Organizes, holds, advertises, or otherwise conducts an
4 29 amateur unarmed combat fighting match.
4 30 (2) Charges admission for the viewing of an amateur
4 31 unarmed combat fighting match received through a closed=
4 32 circuit, pay=per=view, or similarly distributed signal.
4 33 EXPLANATION
4 34 This bill defines "boxing" or "wrestling", for purposes of
4 35 Code chapter 90A, which regulates boxing and wrestling, as any
5 1 kind of boxing, wrestling, or unarmed combat fighting activity
5 2 that is considered a professional match or activity. The bill
5 3 places professional unarmed combat fighting under the
5 4 regulatory authority of the labor commissioner.
5 5 The bill defines "professional unarmed combat fighting" as
5 6 mixed martial arts fighting, extreme fighting, ultimate
5 7 fighting, or shoot fighting. The bill requires a person who
5 8 promotes such fighting to obtain a license from the
5 9 commissioner and to pay a $1,000 licensing fee. Professional
5 10 unarmed combatants must register with the commissioner and pay
5 11 a registration fee of not less than $100.
5 12 Persons who attend a professional boxing or wrestling match
5 13 must be 18 years or older, or 21 years or older if liquor or
5 14 beer is sold or served on the match premises.
5 15 Amateur unarmed combat fighting contests of any sort are
5 16 prohibited. Anyone who promotes such a contest is subject to
5 17 a civil penalty of $20,000 per violation.
5 18 LSB 5399HV 81
5 19 kh:rj/gg/14