STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1481
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 12, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT to amend chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to the regu-
lation of boxing, sparring, and wrestling, in relation to mixed
martial arts events
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 5-a of
2 chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to the regulation of boxing,
3 sparring, and wrestling, as added by chapter 14 of the laws of 1997, is
4 amended to read as follows:
5 A "combative sport" shall mean any professional match or exhibition
6 other than boxing, sparring, wrestling or martial arts wherein the
7 contestants deliver, or are not forbidden by the applicable rules there-
8 of from delivering kicks, punches or blows of any kind to the body of an
9 opponent or opponents. However, "mixed martial arts" shall not be
10 included in the definition of combative sport. "Mixed martial arts"
11 shall mean the utilization of permitted martial arts techniques, includ-
12 ing striking and grappling. For the purposes of this section, the term
13 "martial arts" shall include any professional match or exhibition sanc-
14 tioned by any of the following organizations: U.S. Judo Association,
15 U.S. Judo, Inc., U.S. Judo Federation, U.S. Tae Kwon Do Union, North
16 American Sport Karate Association, U.S.A. Karate Foundation, U.S.
17 Karate, Inc., World Karate Association, Professional Karate Association,
18 Karate International, International Kenpo Association, or World Wide
19 Kenpo Association. The commission is authorized to promulgate regu-
20 lations which would establish a process to allow for the inclusion or
21 removal of martial arts organizations from the above list. Such process
22 shall include but not be limited to consideration of the following
23 factors:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05272-01-5
A. 1481 2
1 § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 5-a of chapter 912 of the laws of 1920
2 relating to the regulation of boxing, sparring, and wrestling is renum-
3 bered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
4 3. The commission shall allow for mixed martial arts competitions to
5 be conducted, held, or given within the state of New York and shall
6 allow for licenses to be approved by the commissioner for such matches
7 or exhibitions. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules and
8 regulations to carry out the provisions of this subdivision. Such rules
9 and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, a more detailed
10 definition of mixed martial arts, the adoption of unified rules of mixed
11 martial arts, a licensing process for matches and exhibitions, a fee
12 schedule for such licenses, and procedures to allow for the partic-
13 ipation, promotion, and advancement of such events.
14 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
