Bill Text: HI SB2399 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 2399 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Mixed Martial Arts

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-05-18 - (H) Act 117, on 5/18/2010 (Gov. Msg. No. 332). [SB2399 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2399-Amended.html

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 101-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2010

RE: S.B. No. 2399

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to protect the health and safety of amateur contestants in mixed martial arts (MMA) contests. Specifically, this bill:

(1) Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to regulate amateur MMA;

(2) Allows DCCA to delegate the control and supervision of amateur MMA contests to a recognized national amateur MMA association;

(3) Defines "amateur mixed martial arts contestant" and "professional mixed martial arts contestant";

(4) Clarifies that amateur MMA contests shall not offer monetary compensation;

(5) Clarifies that amateur MMA contestants must be at least 18 years of age;

(6) Changes the event fees charged to a licensed promoter;

(7) Requires individuals to be at least 18 years of age to apply for a license as a professional MMA contestant;

(8) Exempts amateur MMA contestants from the licensing requirements;

(9) Requires amateur MMA contestants to pass a physical examination conducted by a licensed physician prior to engaging in an MMA contest; and

(10 Repeals additional surcharge fees charged to promoters during their license renewal period for deposit into the Compliance Resolution Fund.

Your Committee finds that regulation of mixed martial arts contests was originally enacted in response to a pattern of severe injuries in unregulated contests. Your Committee further finds that this measure is intended to increase the existing protections and to explicitly extend them to amateur MMA contests and contestants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Redefining "amateur mixed martial arts contestant" to mean a person who is trained in mixed martial arts, competes in an amateur mixed martial arts contest, and is at least eighteen years of age;

(2) Redefining "professional mixed martial arts contestant" to mean a person who is trained in mixed martial arts and competes in a mixed martial arts contest in which money, a prize, or purse, or other form of monetary compensation is offered or given to contestants;

(3) Requiring each mixed martial arts contestant to be examined by a physician within six hours of a contest;

(4) Reinstating the minimum one year of experience requirement for MMA contest referees;

(5) Excepting sections 440E-5(b)(5) and 440E-7(a)(2) and (4), Hawaii Revised Statutes, from applying to amateur mixed martial arts contests;

(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Co-Chair		____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair
____________________________ GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair