Bill 1017

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1017
Ratification Number:       471
Act Number:                427
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to prize fighting and
                           boxing

(A427, R471, S1017)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 7 OF TITLE 52, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PRIZE FIGHTING AND BOXING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHAPTER SHALL RELATE TO STATE AND COUNTY ATHLETIC COMMISSIONS, TO INCLUDE WRESTLING IN THE SPORTS REGULATED, TO REQUIRE A LICENSED PHYSICIAN AT RINGSIDE AT ALL BOXING EVENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR WAIVERS OF CAUSES OF ACTION AGAINST ANY OFFICIAL INVOLVED IN AN ATHLETIC EVENT AND TIME REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE FILING OF APPLICATIONS, TO DELETE REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORTS BY COUNTY ATHLETIC COMMISSIONS, AND TO DELETE RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNTY ATHLETIC COMMISSIONS WHICH ARE ASSIGNED TO THE STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

State Athletic Commission created

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Title 52 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 134 of 1985, is further amended to read:

"CHAPTER 7

State and County Athletic Commissions

Article 1

State Athletic Commission

Section 52-7-10. There is created the State Athletic Commission (commission) to consist of seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One member must be appointed from each congressional district of the State and a member who shall serve as Chief Athletic Commissioner must be appointed from the State at large. The terms of the members are for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies must be filled by the Governor for the remainder of an unexpired term. The Commissioners and employees of the State Athletic Commission may not have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the promotion, management, or result of any boxing, wrestling, or sparring event.

Section 52-7-20. The commission shall meet at least twice yearly at the call of the Chief Athletic Commissioner and the members are allowed the usual per diem, mileage, and subsistence as provided by law for members of boards, committees, and commissions. The Chief Athletic Commissioner shall administer the affairs of the commission under policies established by the commission. Decisions of the Chief Athletic Commissioner may be appealed to the full commission.

Section 52-7-30. The commission has direction, management, control, and supervision over all boxing, wrestling, and sparring events, exhibitions, contests, and performances whether in person or via closed circuit television (events) in this State. The commission shall promulgate regulations as necessary for the protection of the health and safety of participants and to carry out the provisions of this article. The Chief Athletic Commissioner may appoint a chief inspector and referees, inspectors, other officials, and clerical help as he determines necessary to administer the provisions of this article.

Section 52-7-40. No person may hold or participate in an event without a license from the commission. All licenses are valid for one year. The commission shall by regulation establish a schedule of fees for licenses.

Section 52-7-50. Every application for a license under this section must be duly verified and in writing, and, in the case of a corporation or association, signed by its president and attested by its secretary. It shall set forth the information required by the commission and the application for a participant's license must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's birth certificate or other proof of age as may be acceptable to the commission and a written waiver by the applicant of any cause of action against any member or employee of the commission, or of any county athletic commission, referee, ringside physician, or other official arising out of the proper performance of their official duties. No license may be granted to a participant less than eighteen years of age but the commission may by unanimous vote waive this age limit for a specific participant. License applications must be filed with the commission at least one week prior to the commission's actions but the time requirement may be waived in the event of emergency substitutions.

Section 52-7-60. The commission may revoke any license, after hearing, for cause. It may discipline any principal, manager, second, promoter, matchmaker, or participant who violates the provisions of this article or the applicable regulations. Disciplinary action may take the form of a civil penalty or revocation or suspension of a license held by a licensee connected with the violation for all or any part of the unexpired portion and a refusal to renew a license, or both.

Section 52-7-70. No boxing event may be held by any person unless the person has notified, at least two weeks in advance, the commission, in a form prescribed by the commission, of the proposed event and in addition to having a license as contained in Section 52-7-40, has obtained from the commission at least ten days prior to the proposed date, a written permit. No boxing permit may be issued unless the applicant:

(1) provides the names of all anticipated participants;

(2) provides evidence that a policy of medical and hospitalization insurance satisfactory to the commission covers every participant;

(3) files a surety bond with the applications in an amount equal to the total value of any purse offered.

No wrestling event may be held by any person unless the person has a current license issued as required in Section 52-7-40 and has complied with the regulations for obtaining a permit issued by the commission.

Section 52-7-80. No person may be licensed to participate in any event who is not at least eighteen years of age but the commission may waive this prohibition for a specific participant as provided in Section 52-7-50.

Section 52-7-90. Each participant must have a physician's certificate issued prior to the event stating that the participant is in good physical condition.

No boxing event may be held unless a licensed physician is at ringside.

Section 52-7-100. A participant who has suffered a knockout may not take part in any event for thirty days following the knockout.

Section 52-7-110. No event may be more than fifteen rounds in length. The boxing participants shall wear gloves weighing at least eight ounces.

Section 52-7-120. Any building or structure used or intended to be used for any boxing, wrestling, or sparring event must be properly ventilated and provided with fire escapes and must conform with the laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to buildings in the political subdivision where it is situated.

Section 52-7-130. Any person who sells, or causes to be sold, more tickets or invitations for any boxing, wrestling, or sparring event than the seating capacity of the building or structure actually used for an event shall forfeit his license, and is disqualified from receiving any new license or any renewal of license.

Section 52-7-140. The provisions of this article do not apply to any boxing, wrestling, or sparring exhibition, contest, or performance conducted by any institution of higher education or secondary school if all participants are students regularly enrolled in the institution or school, nor does this article apply to boxing or wrestling matches sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union or the United States Amateur Boxing Federation. No amateur boxer may appear on a professional card unless it is held under the jurisdiction of the Professional Karate Association.

Section 52-7-150. Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this article, or regulations promulgated thereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both.

Article 3

County Athletic Commissions

Section 52-7-310. The athletic commission of each county shall consist of five members, two to be appointed by the Senators representing the county, two by the members of the House of Representatives representing the county, and one by the mayor of the city having the largest population within the county. If a county has municipalities in excess of fifty thousand population then that member must be appointed by the mayors of those municipalities. It is the duty of the commission to see that a record of the appointees to the commission is filed in the office of the State Athletic Commission so as to indicate the persons holding office and the duration of their respective terms. All of the members shall serve without compensation and their respective terms of office are coterminous with the terms of office of persons by whom they were appointed. No member may have any financial interest, direct or indirect in the promotion, management, or result of any boxing, wrestling, or sparring event.

It is the responsibility of each commission that the health and safety of participants in boxing matches is safeguarded and that good sportsmanship is encouraged by the manner in which matches are conducted."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.