Bill Text: WV HB4696 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating generally to the West Virginia State Athletic Commission
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-08 - To House Finance [HB4696 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-HB4696-Introduced.html
FISCAL NOTE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4696
By Delegate Crouse
[Introduced January 15, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Government Organization then Finance]
A BILL to amend and reenact §29-5A-1, §29-5A-2, §29-5A-3, §29-5A-3a, §29-5A-3b, §29-5A-4, §29-5A-5, §29-5A-6, §29-5A-7, §29-5A-8, §29-5A-9, §29-5A-13, §29-5A-14, §29-5A-15, §29-5A-16, §29-5A-17, §29-5A-18, §29-5A-19, §29-5A-20, §29-5A-24, §29-5A-25, and §29-5A-25a of the Code of West Virginia,1931, as amended, all relating to the West Virginia State Athletic Commission; providing for the implementation of a gate fee to fund the State Athletic Commission; requiring licensed promoters to provide the State Athletic Commission with a written report containing the gross proceeds from ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights from each event to calculate the gate fee; exempting promoter gate fee reports made to State Athletic Commission from the Freedom of Information Act; calculating the gate fee owed to the State Athletic Commission from the gross proceeds from ticket and pay-per-view , live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights sales from each event provided in the required report; directing promoters to make payment to the Treasurer of West Virginia by submitting a certified check or money order to the commission; directing the gate fee collected to be deposited into the State Athletic Commission special account fun; making technical changes to code by removing any reference to exhibitions; changing titles for certain commission members to Chief Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner; clarifying that excessive payment of fees and payment of fees not approved by the commission constitutes inference of any boxing match sanctioned by the commission; clarifying that inference with any boxing match sanctioned by the commission is prohibited; more closely adhering to the Unified Boxing Rules and the Association of Boxing Commissions for weight classes; modifying the fee paid to officials for matches; and making clear that matches conducted by any university, college or high school may be exempt from this article if sanctioned by U.S.A. Boxing.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 5A. STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION.
§29-5A-1. Creation of commission; members; officers; seal and rules.
(a) The State Boxing Commission, heretofore created, is hereby continued and renamed the State Athletic Commission. The commission shall consist of five persons appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent of the Senate, no more than three of whom shall belong to the same political party and no two of whom shall be residents of the same county at the same time. One member shall have at least three years of experience in the sport of boxing. One member shall have at least three years of experience in the sport of mixed martial arts. One member shall have at least three years of experience in the health care industry as a licensed physician, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or physicians’ assistant. Two members shall be citizen members who are not licensed under the provisions of this article and who do not perform any services related to the persons regulated under this article. The members shall serve without pay except that each member shall receive $100 for each day that he or she attends and participates in a public meeting in which the commission makes or deliberates towards an official act: Provided, That the compensation a member may receive pursuant to this subsection during each fiscal year may not exceed $2,000.
(b) At the expiration of the term of each member, his or her successor shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of four years. If there is a vacancy in the board, the vacancy shall likewise be filled by appointment by the Governor and the Governor shall likewise have the power to remove any commissioner at his or her pleasure.
(c) Any three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the exercise of the power or authority conferred upon it. The members of the commission shall, at the first meeting after their appointment, elect one of their number chairman of the commission Chief Commissioner and another of their number secretary of the commission Deputy Commissioner, shall adopt a seal for the commission, and shall make such rules for the administration of their office, not inconsistent herewith, as they may consider expedient; and they may hereafter amend or abrogate such rules.
(d) The concurrence of at least three commissioners is necessary to render a choice or decision of the commission except that, notwithstanding the requirements of the Open Governmental Proceedings Act, §6-9a-1 et seq. of this code, a quorum of the commission may vote in writing to approve changes to the roster of participants or the roster of officials if the need for the substitution(s) is made known to the commission within 48 hours of an event that the commission previously approved: Provided, That the substitution(s) is necessary to effectuate the match: Provided, however, That the written decision of the commission is presented at the next scheduled meeting of the commission and recorded in its minutes.
§29-5A-2. Powers and duties of secretary Deputy Commissioner; penalty for false swearing, etc; biennial reports of commission.
It shall be the duty of the secretary Deputy Commissioner to keep a full and true record of all proceedings of said commission, to preserve all its books, documents and papers, to prepare for service such notices and other papers as may be required of him or her by the commission and to perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe; and he or she may at the direction of the commission issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses before the commission with the same effect as if they were issued in an action in any circuit court of the state and may administer oaths in all matters pertaining to the duties of his or her office or connected with the administration of the affairs of the commission. The subpoenas shall be on forms prescribed by the commission and served by the sheriff's department of the county in which the individual being subpoenaed resides. Such subpoenas shall be signed by at least two members. Disobedience of such subpoena and false swearing before such secretary shall be attended by the same consequences and be subject to the same penalties as if such disobedience or false swearing occurred in an action in any circuit court of the state. The commission shall make to the Legislature biennial reports of their proceedings for the two years ending with the last day of the preceding December and may submit with such report such recommendations pertaining to its affairs, as to it shall seem advisable.
§29-5A-3. Commission to have sole control of boxing, etc., matches; licenses; municipality not to tax boxing, etc., club.
(a) The commission has sole direction, management, and control of the jurisdiction over all amateur, professional, and semiprofessional boxing, and sparring matches, and exhibitions, or any form thereof, to be conducted, held or given within the state by any club, individual, corporation, or association. As used in this article, the term "boxing" includes any fighting event that includes or permits the striking of an opponent with a closed fist, even if wrestling moves, elements of martial arts, or striking an opponent with the feet are also permitted. No boxing, sparring, or exhibition may be conducted, held, or given within the state except pursuant to the commission's authority and held in accordance with this article. The commission may issue and revoke the license to conduct, hold, or give boxing or sparring matches or exhibitions to any club, corporation, association, or individual. Every license is subject to rules the commission may prescribe. Every application for a license shall be on a blank form provided by the commission. Upon application of the promoter’s license, the promoter shall pay a state license fee of $125 for one year. The fee is nonrefundable and shall be paid in the form of a certified check or money order issued to the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia to be deposited in the fund set forth in §29-5A-3b of this code. Nonprofit chartered and charitable organizations are exempt from this license fee for all amateur events. No municipal corporation may impose any license tax on boxing, or sparring, or exhibition clubs, notwithstanding the provisions of any section of the code respecting municipal taxes and licenses. The granting of a license to a club by the commission, or the holding of a license by a club, individual, corporation, or association, does not prevent the commission from canceling or revoking the license to conduct an event as provided in this section.
(b) In exercising its jurisdiction over professional and semiprofessional boxing, and sparring matches, and exhibitions, the commission shall follow the current unified rules of boxing adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and requirements to enable the proper sanctioning of all participants, referees, judges, and matches or exhibitions and shall cooperate fully with the Association of Boxing Commissions in order that the sanctioning be extended to state boxers. The commission shall supervise all amateur boxing conducted in this state and any such contest shall follow the amateur rules for boxing as recommended and adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions, U.S.A. Boxing, the International Boxing Association, or any other appropriate governing or sanctioning body recognized and accepted by the commission. For full contact boxing events and other boxing events that follow nontraditional rules, the commission may impose any limitations or restrictions reasonably necessary to guarantee the safety of the participants and the fair and honest conducting of the matches or exhibitions and may refuse to license any event that poses an unreasonable degree of risk to the participants.
(c) In exercising jurisdiction over professional, semiprofessional, and amateur boxing as well as any other boxing event over which the commission has jurisdiction under §29-5A-3(b) of this code, the commission may propose rules for legislative approval, in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, to implement the provision of this section including:
(1) Procedures and requirements for the issuance and renewal of licenses;
(2) Exemptions from licensure;
(3) Procedures for fining, suspending, or revoking the license of any holder of a license issued under this article;
(4) A schedule of licensing fees;
(5) Limitations or restrictions necessary to guarantee the safety of the participants;
(6) Requirements for fair and honest conducting of contests, matches, or exhibitions; and
(7) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.
(d) The commission does not sanction exhibitions of any kind and boxing exhibitions are not permitted.
§29-5A-3a. Power to regulate mixed martial arts.
(a) The commission has sole power, direction, management, and control over all professional and amateur mixed martial arts contests, and matches, and exhibitions, or any form thereof, to be promoted, conducted, held, or given within the state.
(b) As used in this article, the term "mixed martial arts" means a combative sporting contest, the rules of which allow two competitors to attempt to achieve dominance over one another by utilizing a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, striking, grappling, and the application of submission holds.
(c) A mixed martial arts contest, or match, or exhibition promoted, conducted, held, or given within the state shall be under the commission's authority and be in accordance with the provision of this section. The provisions of this article that apply to boxing shall also apply to mixed martial arts as appropriate.
(d) In exercising its jurisdiction over professional and amateur mixed martial arts contests, and matches, and exhibitions, the commission shall follow the current unified rules of mixed martial arts as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions to enable the proper equipment, fighting area and weight classes to ensure the safety of contestants and ensure the licensing of all participants, referees, and judges, and the approval of contests, or matches, or exhibitions conducted under the provisions of this section.
(e) The commission may issue and revoke a license to promote, conduct, hold, or give mixed martial arts contests, or matches, or exhibitions and may issue and revoke a license to be a contestant. Each license is subject to the provisions of this section and this article and the rules of the commission.
(f) The commission shall propose rules for legislative approval, in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this section, including:
(1) Procedures and requirements for the issuance and renewal of licenses: Provided, That the procedures and requirements may not:
(A) Limit or prohibit mixed martial arts contests, or matches or exhibitions; nor
(B) Include a provision that a licensee be a West Virginia resident;
(2) Exemptions from licensure;
(3) Procedures for fining, suspending, or revoking the license of any holder of a license issued under this article;
(4) Adopting the unified rules of mixed martial arts;
(5) A schedule of licensing fees;
(6) Limitations or restrictions necessary to guarantee the safety of the participants;
(7) The requirements for fair and honest conducting of the contests, or matches or exhibitions; and
(8) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this code to the contrary, a municipality may not impose a municipal license tax under §8-13-4 of this code on mixed martial arts clubs. The granting of a license to a club by the commission, or the holding of a license by a club, individual, corporation, or association, does not prevent the commission from revoking the license to conduct an event as provided in this section: Provided, That nothing in this subsection limits the authority of a municipality to impose any other taxes or fees on mixed martial arts contests, or matches, or exhibitions pursuant to §8-13-1 et seq. of this code.
§29-5A-3b. State Athletic Commission Fund.
(a) All moneys collected shall be deposited in a special account in the State Treasury to be known as the State Athletic Commission Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be for the purposes set forth in this article and are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of §12-3-1 et seq. of this code and upon fulfillment of the provisions of §11B-2-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, That for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to appropriation by the Legislature.
(b) A supplemental appropriation may be authorized by the Legislature for administrative expenditures that exceed collections in the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018, or until such time as the commission collections are sufficient to fully fund its operations.
(c) All money collected and deposited in the State Athletic Commission Fund that remains after the commission satisfies its administrative operating obligations shall be surplus revenue funds available for appropriation: Provided, That the commission may retain surplus revenue funds as long as it allocates the surplus for a specific purpose and approves such funds be carried forward for use in the following fiscal year prior to the end of the fiscal year in which the revenues were collected.
§29-5A-4. Licenses to be in lieu of all other licenses.
The licenses herein imposed shall be in lieu of all other licenses or license taxes of the State of West Virginia, and no county, city, town, or other municipality or other political subdivision of the State of West Virginia shall be empowered to levy or impose any license or license tax on any such person engaged in the business of conducting boxing or sparring matches and exhibitions under the jurisdiction of and being licensed by the commission.
§29-5A-5. Expense of commission.
On or before December 31 of each year, the secretary of the commission Deputy Commissioner shall present to the Governor projected expenses for the following year. Such projections shall include all expenses and revenues of the commission and its official headquarters. Necessary expenses incurred by the commission shall be submitted on a standard expense form to the Treasurer of the state of West Virginia to be paid from the State Athletic Commission Fund except in such circumstances referred to in §29-5A-3(b) of this code designating such expenses be paid from the General Fund.
§29-5A-6. Payment of official in charge.
The deputy, inspector or other officials designated by the commission to be in charge of a boxing or mixed martial arts event shall be paid by the promoter at a minimum rate of $75 per day for services performed prior to any event at a weigh-in and each day of an event: Provided, That not more than one official designated by the commission to be in charge of a boxing or mixed martial arts event may receive compensation for services performed. If a weigh-in occurs within three hours before the boxing bouts are scheduled to begin, the deputy, inspector or other officials will be paid only one rate at a minimum of $75 $150 for that particular night or day’s events. Judges, timekeepers, scorekeepers and inspectors shall be paid by the promoter at a minimum rate of $50 $100 per day for services performed prior to any event and each day of an event. Referees shall be paid by the promoter at a minimum rate of $75 $150 per day of bouts. Payments to the officials in charge, judges, timekeepers, scorekeepers, inspectors or referees exceeding the amounts under this section are prohibited without prior written consent of the promoter: Provided, however, That the commission may revise any fees paid to officials through legislative rule-making process beginning June 30, 2018, and every three years thereafter. The commission may not revoke an event permit or license for refusal to pay a fee greater than the fees in this section: Provided further, That approved officials are available, willing and able to work the event for the proscribed fees. Deputies, inspectors, judges, referees, timekeepers, scorekeepers or any other officials designated by the commission to be in charge of an event shall not accept, other than the fees proscribed herein, any gift, pass or other thing of value in connection with any event.
§29-5A-7. Interference with or restraining of professional boxing or exhibitions.
No person or persons, club, organization, or corporation shall, except in accordance with law, interfere with or restrain, or attempt to interfere with or restrain, by any act, threat or otherwise, either within or without this state, the putting on or the conducting of any professional boxing match or exhibition of this state. Excessive payment of fees and payment of fees not approved by the commission to officials constitutes inference with any boxing match sanctioned by the commission.
§29-5A-8. Issuance of license; qualification for licenses; and application of other provisions of chapter; hearings.
(a) The commission may issue a license to promote, conduct, or hold professional, semiprofessional or amateur boxing, or professional or amateur mixed martial arts sparring matches and exhibitions to any person, corporation, association, club, or organization eligible for a license under this article. In the case of a corporate applicant, the requirements for licensure shall pertain to its officers, directors, principal stockholders, and employees.
Before being granted a license or the renewal of a license under this subsection, the applicant shall establish to the satisfaction of the commission that he or she:
(A) Possesses the requisite skill, knowledge, and ability to promote, hold, and conduct a boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or match;
(B) Is of good moral character;
(C) Has executed and filed a surety bond with the commission as required in §29-5A-15 of this code;
(D) Will conduct his or her business in a manner that furthers the public welfare, preserves the safety and health of participants, and advances the reputation and interests of the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts;
(E) Will adhere to and comply with all the rules of the commission pertaining to the license.
(b) The commission may issue a license to engage as a combatant in a boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or match to any person eligible for a license under this article.
Before being granted a license or a renewal of a license issued under this subsection, the applicant shall establish to the satisfaction of the commission that he or she:
(A) Possesses the requisite fitness, skill, knowledge, and ability to compete as a professional, semiprofessional or amateur boxer, or a professional or amateur mixed martial artist;
(B) Is of good moral character;
(C) Will act in a manner that furthers the public welfare and advances the reputation and interests of the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts;
(D) Will adhere to and comply with all the rules and regulations of the commission pertaining to the license.
(c)(1) The commission may issue any other license required under this article including any license of a referee, judge, other official, manager, matchmaker, or trainer. In the case of a corporate applicant, the requirements for licensure shall pertain to its officers, directors, principal stockholders, and employees.
(2) Before being granted a license or the renewal of a license under this subsection, the applicant shall establish to the satisfaction of the commission that he or she:
(A) Possesses the requisite skill, knowledge, and ability in boxing and mixed martial arts;
(B) Is of good moral character;
(C) Will adhere to and comply with all the rules and regulations of the commission pertaining to the license;
(D) Will act in a manner that furthers the public welfare, preserves the safety and health of participants, and advances the reputation and interests of the sports of boxing and mixed martial arts.
(d) Every license and licensee is subject to such rules, and amendments thereof, as the commission may prescribe.
§29-5A-9. Sanction or permit from commission.
No boxing, or sparring matches or exhibitions shall be conducted by any individual, club, organization or corporation having a license to conduct any such exhibitions matches in this state except by a sanction or permit from the commission.
§29-5A-13. Cancellation of license for fake boxing, etc., exhibition matches; penalty for participating in such exhibition match.
Any club, corporation, association, or individual which may conduct, hold or give or participate in any sham or fake boxing, sparring, or exhibition match shall thereby forfeit its license issued in accordance with the provisions of this article, which shall thereupon be, by the commission, canceled and declared void; and it shall not be entitled to receive another such license or any license pursuant to the provisions of this article, nor shall any license thereafter be granted to any club, corporation, association, or individual, including among its members, directors, partners or stockholders, any member, director, partner, or stockholder of the club, corporation, association or individual whose license has been so forfeited. Any contestant who shall participate in any sham or fake boxing, sparring, or exhibition match, and any other person whatsoever who shall in any manner be connected with the arranging, planning, holding, conducting, or giving of any such sham or fake boxing, sparring, or exhibition match shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, shall upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $500, nor more than $1,000, or be confined in jail for a period of not less than six months, nor more than one year or both; and any contestant so participating shall be further totally disqualified from further admission or participation in any boxing or sparring held or given by any club, corporation, association, or individual duly licensed for said purpose.
§29-5A-14. Suspension, revocation, etc., of license.
The commission shall have the additional authority and power to suspend, revoke, or place on probation the license of any licensee licensed under this chapter, who in the discretion of the commission:
(a) Fails to obey any lawful order of the commission, the secretary, or any inspector thereof;
(b) Is guilty of gross immorality;
(c) Lacks the requisite fitness, skill, knowledge, or ability to safely, properly, and competently promote, hold, conduct, engage, act, manage, contend in, judge, referee, officiate, or otherwise participate in a boxing or mixed martial arts contest;
(d) Violates any provision of this article or the rules of the commission;
(e) Secures any benefit, payment, reimbursement, agreement, contract, license, or title for himself, herself, or another related to a boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or match through fraud, deceit, or material misrepresentation;
(f) Has a direct or indirect financial interest in the outcome or result of any boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or event that he or she promotes, holds, or conducts;
(g) Has a direct or indirect financial interest in the outcome or result of any boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or event in which he or she acts as a judge, referee, deputy, inspector, timekeeper, scorekeeper, or other official;
(h) Contracts, agrees, acts, engages, or attempts to promote, manage, train, or match any boxer or mixed martial artist without disclosing, through a written instrument, any direct or indirect financial interest in conflict with the boxer's or mixed martial artist’s health, safety, competitive, or financial interests;
(i) Is licensed as a promoter and has a direct or indirect financial interest in the management of any boxer or mixed martial artist licensed by the commission;
(j) Is licensed as a manager and has a direct or indirect financial interest in the promotion of any boxing or mixed martial arts contest, exhibition, or match sanctioned by the commission: Provided, That a manager may receive any compensation expressly agreed to and disclosed in a written contract between the boxer and manager: Provided, however, That nothing in this section shall prohibit a boxer or mixed martial artist from acting as his own promoter or manager;
(k) Violates any provision of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000, 15 U.S.C. §6301 et seq.;
(l) Has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction within one year preceding the suspension or revocation and such conviction not previously reported to the commission by said licensee;
(m) Is an habitual drunkard or addicted to the use of narcotics;
(n) Is or has become mentally incompetent;
(o) Is or has been guilty of unprofessional or unethical conduct, or such conduct as to require a suspension or revocation of license in the interest of the public;
(p) Has failed to furnish the proper party a copy of any contract or statement required by this chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder, or has breached such a contract;
(q) Has loaned or permitted another person to use his or her license, or has borrowed or used the license of another;
(r) Has failed to maintain in force the bond required by this chapter;
(s) Has by act or omission conducted himself or herself in a manner which would tend to be detrimental to the best interests of boxing generally, or to the public interest and general welfare;
(t) Has been disciplined in any manner by the boxing commission or similar agency or body of any jurisdiction;
(u) Has failed to pay a fine or forfeiture imposed by this chapter;
(v) Has, either within or without this state, by any act, threat, statement, or otherwise, restrained, hindered, interfered with, or prevented another promoter, club, association, or booking agent, or has attempted, either within or without this state, in any such manner to restrain, hinder, interfere with, or prevent another promoter, club, association, or booking agent from presenting any boxing match or exhibition within or without the state of West Virginia;
(w) Has, either within or without this state, engaged, directly or indirectly, in restraints or monopolies or taken any action tending to create or establish restraints or monopolies or conspired with others to restrain any person or persons from participating or competing in any boxing match or exhibition for any promoter, club, association or booking agent.
§29-5A-15. Gate fee to be paid to the commission; reports by clubs to commission; bonds of applicants for license.
(a) Every club, corporation, association or individual which may hold or exercise any of the privileges conferred by this article shall, within 15 four business days after the determination of any contest, furnish to the commission a written report, duly verified by one of its officers, showing the number of tickets sold for such contest, and the amount of the gross proceeds thereof, the itemized number of pay-per-views, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights, and the amount of the gross proceeds thereof, and such other matters as the commission may prescribe. The report providing the gross proceeds from ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights, shall be used to determine amount due to the commission to satisfy the gate fee requirement pursuant to §29-5A-15(b) of this code. Such reports shall be exempt from disclosure pursuant to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code §29B-1-1 et seq.
(b) In exercising its jurisdiction over any boxing or mixed martial arts matches, and to further promote safety and proper regulation of such matches by the commission, the commission shall collect a gate fee of three percent of the gross proceeds from all ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights, if any, for each sanctioned contest, sparring event, or match to fund the commission from any promoter or promoters conducting events. Upon submission of a report reflecting the gross proceeds of ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights, as required by this code, the promoter shall pay the commission three percent of the gross proceeds in the form of a certified check or money order issued to the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia to be sent to the commission and then deposited in the State Athletic Commission special account fund set forth in §29-5A-3b(a) of this code.
(c) Before any license shall be granted to any club, corporation, association or individual to conduct, hold or give any boxing, or sparring or exhibition, such applicant therefor shall execute and file with the commission a surety bond in the sum of which shall be at the discretion of said commission, to be approved as to form and the sufficiency of the security thereon by the said commission. Such bond shall cover all purses, awards, and payments to be paid by the promoter.
§29-5A-16. Presence of members of commission or inspection at exhibitions and matches.
(a) Each member of the commission may be present at all exhibitions and matches without charge therefor, and shall, when present, see that the rules are strictly observed, and may be present at the counting of the gross receipts. The commission may appoint an inspector to be present representing the commission, which inspector has the same privilege hereby conferred upon a member of the commission; and the inspector shall immediately mail to the commission the official box office statement received from the officers of the club.
(b) Subject to available funds, the commission may pay a member of the commission $150 for each day that he or she performs the work of the commission at a sanctioned exhibition or match. But the commission may pay no more than two members of the commission for each day of a an exhibition or match. The commission may pay no more than $3,000, collectively, to the members of the commission pursuant to this subsection during any fiscal year.
§29-5A-17. Referee and judges; appointment by commission; powers; payment.
(a) The chief official of the boxing match or exhibition shall be the referee. The referee and judges shall be appointed by the commission and shall receive from the commission a card authorizing them to act as such and no club may employ or permit anyone to act as referee except one holding a card of authorization from the commission. The referee has general supervision and control over the match or exhibition and shall be paid by the promoter a minimum of $75 $150 for each day or night's services for each event. The referee is limited to refereeing a maximum of thirty rounds per day or night unless special consent is given by the commission.
(b) Once appointed by the commission, the promoter bears the responsibility for ensuring the attendance of referee and judges at events. The commission shall provide promoters with advance notice of the person(s) appointed as referee and judges. A promoter, at his or her own expense, may request alternate referee(s) and judge(s) be appointed by the commission to serve in the event a first appointed referee or judge is unable to satisfy the role. Under no circumstances may a member of the commission or any employee of the commission serve as a referee or judge for a boxing or mixed martial arts contest conducted in this state.
§29-5A-18. Examination of contestants by physician; presence at contest; report to commission.
In any boxing or exhibition match, each contestant must be examined by a qualified physician prior to entering the ring. The physician shall certify in writing over his or her signature, as to contestant's physical condition to engage in such contest. Qualified technicians may assist the physician in the examinations, and a physician shall be in attendance during any boxing bouts prepared to deal with any emergency which may arise. But in the event that said physician is convinced of the unfitness of either of the contestants to enter the contest, he or she shall at once certify such opinion to the club, corporation, association or individual under whose management the contest is conducted, and it shall thereupon be unlawful for said club, corporation, association, or individual to proceed with such. Whenever a participant, in the opinion of the physician, is unable to continue in a boxing match, the physician may stop the bout.
§29-5A-19. Weight of contestants.
No boxer shall be permitted to contest against an opponent ten pounds heavier than himself or herself when the weight of either contestant is less than one hundred fifty pounds. Weight classes and restrictions of contestants within those weight classes are governed by the rules as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and the Uniform Boxing Rules, as amended. The rules adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions and the Uniform Boxing Rules, as amended, shall be utilized for all boxing and mixed martial arts contests conducted in this state.
§29-5A-20. Licenses for contestants, referees, and managers.
No contestant, trainer, inspector, referee, other official, matchmaker, or professional manager may take part in any boxing or mixed martial arts contest or exhibition unless holding a license from the state that is issued by the commission upon payment of the following annual license fee schedule: Professional contestant $25; amateur contestant $20; trainer $20; inspector $30; referee or other official, $30; matchmaker $50; and professional manager $50. Semiprofessional contestants shall pay a license fee of $10 for each event. Such fees shall accompany the application and shall be in the form of a certified check or money order and shall be issued to the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia to be deposited in the State Athletic Commission Fund. If a license is not granted, the Treasurer shall refund the full amount.
§29-5A-24. Rules governing contestants and matches.
(a) The commission shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.
(b) The commission shall propose such rules to regulate professional and semiprofessional boxers, professional or amateur mixed martial artists, professional and semiprofessional boxing matches and exhibitions and professional or amateur mixed martial arts matches and exhibitions: Provided, That for professional boxers and boxing matches and exhibitions, the commission rules shall comply with the current unified rules of boxing as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions; for professional mixed martial artists and mixed martial arts matches and exhibitions, the commission rules shall comply with the current unified rules of mixed martial arts as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions; for amateur boxers and boxing matches or exhibitions, the commission rules shall comply with the amateur rules for boxing as adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions, U.S.A. Boxing, the International Boxing Association, or any other appropriate governing or sanctioning body recognized and accepted by the commission; and for amateur mixed martial artists and mixed martial arts matches or exhibitions, the commission rules shall comply with the current unified rules of mixed martial arts as recommended and/or adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions. For full contact boxing and other boxing events that follow nontraditional rules, rules guaranteeing the safety of the participants and the fair and honest conducting of the matches or exhibitions are authorized.
(c) The commission shall propose separate rules for amateur boxers and amateur boxing, and sparring matches and exhibitions as follows:
Rules which comply with the requirements of the rules recommended or adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions, U.S.A. Boxing, the International Boxing Association, or any other appropriate governing or sanctioning body recognized and accepted by the commission to the extent that any boxer complying with them will be eligible to participate in any state, nationally, or internationally sanctioned boxing match.
§29-5A-25. Special permits to American Legion and other organizations.
Nothing in this article contained shall be construed to render unlawful boxing, or sparring or exhibition contests for any charitable purpose, the American Legion, National Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or other charitable organizations, but a permit shall be obtained from the commission. No charge shall be made for such permit.
§29-5A-25a. Certain amateur matches exempt.
The provisions of this article do not apply to all amateur wrestling, amateur boxing, or amateur sparring matches or exhibitions conducted by any university, college, middle school, or high school: Provided, That such amateur matches are properly sanctioned by U.S.A. Boxing.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to fund the West Virginia State Athletic Commission by implementing a 3% gate fee for all ticket and pay-per-view sales, live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights from sanctioned events and requiring licensed promoters to provide the commission with a report showing the gross proceeds from all ticket and pay-per-view sales live streaming right, video rights, sold for such contest and any rebroadcast rights; to remove any mention of "exhibition" throughout the code; to amend titles of elected commissioners to avoid confusion regarding duplicative roles; to modify fees paid to event officials to more closely conform to industry demand; to amend code governing contestant weight classes to conform to the Unified Boxing Rules and the Association of Boxing Commissions; and to make clear that matches conducted by any university, college or high school may be exempt from this article if sanctioned by U.S.A. Boxing.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
