Bill Text: TX SB618 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the elimination of the licensing and registration requirements for ringside physicians and timekeepers for combative sports events.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-14 - Effective on 9/1/13 [SB618 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB618-Engrossed.html

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By: Carona S.B. No. 618

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the elimination of the licensing and registration
requirements for ringside physicians and timekeepers for combative
sports events.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subdivision (20), Section 2052.002, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(20) "Ringside physician" means an individual who has
an unrestricted and unlimited license [licensed] to practice
medicine in this state and who, by agreement, is assigned as the
physician for a combative sports event [registered with the
department].
SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 2052.052, Occupations
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The commission may adopt rules:
(1) governing boxing, kickboxing, martial arts, or
mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions;
(2) establishing reasonable qualifications for an
applicant seeking a license or registration from the department
under this chapter;
(3) recognizing a sanction, medical suspension, or
disqualification of a licensee or registrant by a combative sports
authority in any state, provided that if licensure or registration
is denied based on those actions, an applicant has an opportunity
for a hearing as prescribed by rule;
(4) establishing selection criteria and procedures
for the assignment of individuals who agree to act as ringside
physicians and timekeepers for combative sports events [practice
requirements or specialty certifications that a person licensed to
practice medicine in this state must meet to register as a ringside
physician];
(5) requiring a contestant to present with an
application for licensure or license renewal documentation of
recent blood test results that demonstrate whether the contestant
is free from hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human
immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease
designated by commission rule and providing that a contestant's
failure to provide the required blood test results disqualifies the
contestant;
(6) providing that to participate in any event a
contestant must be free of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus,
human immunodeficiency virus, and any other communicable disease
designated by rule;
(7) requiring that a contestant present with an
application for licensure or license renewal documentation of the
results of a physical examination, including an ophthalmologic
examination, and providing for disqualification of a contestant who
is determined by an examining physician to be unfit;
(8) establishing additional responsibilities for
promoters; and
(9) governing regulated amateur events.
SECTION 3. Section 2052.107, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 2052.107. OTHER COMBATIVE SPORTS LICENSES. Unless a
person holds a license or registration issued under this chapter,
the person may not act as a combative sports:
(1) professional contestant;
(2) manager of a professional contestant;
(3) referee;
(4) judge;
(5) second;
(6) [timekeeper;
[(7)] matchmaker;
[(8) ringside physician;] or
(7) [(9)] event coordinator.
SECTION 4. (a) A disciplinary or administrative
proceeding pending under Chapter 51 or 2052, Occupations Code, that
is related to a violation of licensing or registration requirements
for a timekeeper or ringside physician under Chapter 2052,
Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, is dismissed.
(b) An administrative penalty assessed by the Texas
Commission of Licensing and Regulation or the executive director of
the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Chapter
2052, Occupations Code, related to a violation of Chapter 2052,
Occupations Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, may be collected as provided by Chapter
51, Occupations Code.
(c) The change in law made by this Act does not affect the
pending prosecution of an offense under Chapter 2052, Occupations
Code, as that chapter existed immediately before the effective date
of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the offense was
committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
occurred before that date.
(d) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
Act, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall return
a prorated portion of the fee paid to the department for the
issuance or renewal of the registration or license to a person who
holds a valid registration as a ringside physician or timekeeper
issued under Chapter 2052, Occupations Code, as that chapter
existed immediately before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.