Assigned to COMPS FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to COMPS FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
boxing; mixed martial arts; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission (Commission) for eight years.
Background
The Commission, established in 1982 and expanded to include mixed martial arts in 1997, is a regulatory body to: 1) manage licensure for all contestants, promoters, announcers, inspectors, physicians, timekeepers, trainers, managers and matchmakers; 2) require medical examination and insurance coverage; 3) oversee all contests; 4) form intergovernmental agreements with tribal organizations; 5) ensure payment to participants; and 6) conduct investigations and take appropriate disciplinary action (A.R.S. § 5-224). The Commission enables Arizona-hosted events by satisfying federal supervision requirements in the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996.
The Commission has three members appointed by the Governor and two full-time employees (A.R.S § 5-223). Since 1992, the Department of Racing (now Gaming) has administered license fees, bonds and event tax on gross receipts and allocated funding for Commission operations (Laws 1992, Chapter 337). The Division of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts was consolidated into the Department of Gaming in 2015 (Laws 2015, Chapter 19).
The Mixed Martial Arts Account (Account) with the Racing Regulation Fund collects fees for unarmed combat events to pay for the administration and regulation of events. The Account recorded $19,400 in expenditures and a $93,300 year-end balance in FY 2018 (JLBC Baseline Book). There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2018, the Commission until July 1, 2026.
2. Repeals the Commission on January 1, 2027.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
House Action
COM 1/16/18 DP 7-0-0-2
3rd Read 2/7/18 56-0-3-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 1, 2018
GH/lb