STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4531
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 26, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to the regu-
lation of boxing, sparring and wrestling, in relation to establishing
protocols for amateur combative sports events in this state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of section 4 of chapter 912
2 of the laws of 1920 relating to the regulation of boxing, sparring and
3 wrestling, subdivisions 2 and 6 as amended by chapter 437 of the laws of
4 2002 and subdivisions 3, 4 and 5 as added by chapter 603 of the laws of
5 1981, are amended to read as follows:
6 2. The advisory board shall have power and it shall be the duty of the
7 board to prepare and submit to the commission for approval regulations
8 and standards for the physical examination of professional boxers and
9 amateur combative sports participants including, without limitation,
10 pre-fight and/or post-fight examinations and periodic comprehensive
11 examinations. The board shall continue to serve in an advisory capacity
12 to the commission and from time to time prepare and submit to the
13 commission for approval, such additional regulations and standards of
14 examination as in their judgment will safeguard the physical welfare of
15 professional boxers licensed by the commission. The advisory board shall
16 recommend to the commission from time to time such qualified physicians,
17 for the purpose of conducting physical examinations of professional
18 boxers and amateur combative sports participants and other services as
19 the rules of the commission shall provide; and shall recommend to the
20 commission a schedule of fees to be paid to physicians for such examina-
21 tions and other services as required by this act.
22 3. The advisory board shall develop appropriate medical education
23 programs for all commission personnel involved in the conduct of boxing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10193-01-5
S. 4531 2
1 and sparring matches or exhibitions or amateur combative sports matches
2 or exhibitions so that such personnel can recognize and act upon
3 evidence of potential or actual adverse medical indications in a partic-
4 ipant prior to or during the course of a match or exhibition.
5 4. The advisory board shall review the credentials and performance of
6 each commission physician on an annual basis as a condition of reap-
7 pointment of each such physician, including each such physician's
8 comprehension of the medical literature on boxing or amateur combative
9 sports referred to in subdivision five of this section.
10 5. The advisory board shall recommend to the commission a compilation
11 of medical publications on the medical aspects of boxing or amateur
12 combative sports which shall be maintained by the commission and be made
13 available for review to all commission personnel involved in the conduct
14 of any boxing or sparring match or exhibition or amateur combative
15 sports match or exhibition.
16 6. The advisory board shall also advise the commission on any study of
17 equipment, procedures or personnel which will, in their opinion, promote
18 the safety of boxing participants and amateur combative sports partic-
19 ipants.
20 § 2. Section 5-a of chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to the
21 regulation of boxing, sparring and wrestling, as added by chapter 14 of
22 the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
23 § 5-a. Combative sports. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
24 (a) "Board" means medical advisory board as established in section
25 four of this act.
26 (b) A "combative sport" shall mean any amateur or professional match
27 or exhibition other than boxing, sparring, wrestling or martial arts
28 wherein the contestants deliver, or are not forbidden by the applicable
29 rules thereof from delivering kicks, punches or blows of any kind to the
30 body of an opponent or opponents. For the purposes of this section, the
31 term "martial arts" shall include any professional match or exhibition
32 of a single discipline sanctioned by an organization approved by the
33 commission, including, but not limited to, any of the following organ-
34 izations: U.S. Judo Association, U.S. Judo, Inc., U.S. Judo Federation,
35 U.S. Tae Kwon Do Union, North American Sport Karate Association, U.S.A.
36 Karate Foundation, U.S. Karate, Inc., World Karate Association, Profes-
37 sional Karate Association, Karate International, International Kenpo
38 Association, or World Wide Kenpo Association. The commission [is author-
39 ized to] shall promulgate regulations which would establish a process to
40 allow for the inclusion or removal of martial arts organizations from
41 the above list. Such process shall include but not be limited to consid-
42 eration of the following factors: [(a)] (1) is the organization's
43 primary purpose to provide instruction in self defense techniques; [(b)]
44 (2) does the organization require the use of hand, feet and groin
45 protection during any competition or bout; and [(c)] (3) does the organ-
46 ization have an established set of rules that require the immediate
47 termination of any competition or bout when any participant has received
48 severe punishment or is in danger of suffering serious physical injury.
49 (c) "Commission" means the state athletic commission as provided for
50 in section one of this act or an agent of the commission acting on its
51 behalf.
52 (d) "Amateur combative sports participant" or "participant" shall mean
53 a combative sports fighter who competes without any form of pecuniary
54 gain paid therefor, in any contest conforming to the rules, regulations
55 and requirements of this section.
S. 4531 3
1 2. No professional combative sport shall be conducted, held or given
2 within the state of New York, and no licenses may be approved by the
3 commission for such matches or exhibitions.
4 3. (a) A person who knowingly advances or profits from a professional
5 or amateur combative sport activity shall be guilty of a class A misde-
6 meanor, and shall be guilty of a class E felony if he or she has been
7 convicted in the previous five years of violating this subdivision.
8 (b) A person advances a professional combative sport activity when,
9 acting other than as a spectator, he or she engages in conduct which
10 materially aids any professional combative sport. Such conduct includes
11 but is not limited to conduct directed toward the creation, establish-
12 ment or performance of a professional combative sport, toward the acqui-
13 sition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus
14 therefor, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to attend or
15 participate therein, toward the actual conduct of the performance there-
16 of, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or promotional phas-
17 es, or toward any other phase of a combative sport. One advances a
18 professional combative sport activity when, having substantial proprie-
19 tary or other authoritative control over premises being used with his or
20 her knowledge for purposes of a professional combative sport activity,
21 he or she permits such to occur or continue or makes no effort to
22 prevent its occurrence or continuation.
23 (c) A person profits from a professional or amateur combative sport
24 activity when he or she accepts or receives money or other property with
25 intent to participate in the proceeds of a combative sport activity, or
26 pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he or
27 she participates or is to participate in the proceeds of a professional
28 or amateur combative sport activity.
29 (d) Any person who knowingly advances or profits from a professional
30 or amateur combative sport activity shall also be subject to a civil
31 penalty not to exceed for the first violation ten thousand dollars or
32 twice the amount of gain derived therefrom whichever is greater, or for
33 a subsequent violation twenty thousand dollars or twice the amount of
34 gain derived therefrom whichever is greater. The attorney general is
35 hereby empowered to commence judicial proceedings to recover such penal-
36 ties and to obtain injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this
37 section. No amateur combative sports match or exhibition shall be
38 conducted, held or given within the state except in accordance with the
39 provisions of this section and the rules and regulations promulgated by
40 the commission pursuant thereto. The commission shall direct a represen-
41 tative to be present at each place where amateur combative sports are to
42 be held pursuant to the provisions of this section. Such representative
43 shall ascertain the exact conditions surrounding such match or exhibi-
44 tion and make a written report of the same in the manner and form
45 prescribed by the commission. Such amateur combative sports matches or
46 exhibitions may be held in any building for which the commission in its
47 discretion may issue a license. Where such match or exhibition is
48 authorized to be held in a state or city owned armory, the provision of
49 the military law in respect thereto must be complied with, but no such
50 match or exhibition shall be held in a building wholly used for reli-
51 gious services.
52 4. (a) The commission shall have and hereby is vested with the sole
53 direction, management, control and jurisdiction over all amateur comba-
54 tive sports matches or exhibitions to be conducted, held or given within
55 the state of New York and over all licenses to any and all persons who
56 participate in such amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions and
S. 4531 4
1 over any and all gyms, clubs, training camps and other organizations
2 that maintain training facilities providing contact sparring for persons
3 who prepare for participation in such amateur combative sports or exhi-
4 bitions, except as otherwise provided in this section.
5 (b) The commission is authorized and directed to require that all
6 sites wherein amateur combative sports are conducted shall comply with
7 state and applicable local sanitary codes appropriate to school athletic
8 facilities.
9 5. All corporations, persons, limited liability companies, referees,
10 judges, corporation treasurers, amateur combative sports participants,
11 and promoters shall be licensed by the commission, and no such entity
12 shall be permitted to participate, either directly or indirectly, in any
13 amateur combative sports match or exhibition, or the holding thereof,
14 unless such entity shall have first procured a license from the commis-
15 sion. The commission shall establish by rule and regulation licensing
16 standards for referees, judges and promoters. Any match or exhibition
17 conforming to the rules, regulations and requirements of this section
18 shall be deemed to be an amateur combative sports match or exhibition.
19 6. (a) The commission may, in its discretion, issue a license to
20 conduct or hold amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions, subject
21 to the provisions hereof, to any person, corporation or limited liabil-
22 ity company duly incorporated or formed, hereinafter referred to as
23 "entity".
24 (b) A prospective licensee must submit to the commission proof that it
25 can furnish suitable premises in which such match or exhibition is to be
26 held.
27 (c) Upon written application and the payment of a fee of five hundred
28 dollars which must accompany the application, the commission may grant
29 to any entity holding a license issued hereunder, the privilege of hold-
30 ing such a match or exhibition on a specified date in other premises, or
31 in another location, than the premises or location previously approved
32 by the commission, subject however to approval of the commission and the
33 rules and regulations of the commission.
34 (d) All penalties imposed and collected by the commission from any
35 entity licensed under the provisions of this act, which fines and penal-
36 ties are imposed and collected under the authority hereby vested shall
37 within thirty days after the receipt thereof by the commission be paid
38 by them into the state treasury.
39 7. Each applicant for a promoter license shall, before a license is
40 issued by the commission, pay to the commission, an annual license fee
41 as follows: where the seating capacity is not more than two thousand
42 five hundred, five hundred dollars; where the seating capacity is more
43 than two thousand five hundred but not more than five thousand, one
44 thousand dollars; where the seating capacity is more than five thousand
45 but not more than fifteen thousand, one thousand five hundred dollars;
46 where the seating capacity is more than fifteen thousand but not more
47 than twenty-five thousand, two thousand five hundred dollars; where the
48 seating capacity is more than twenty-five thousand, three thousand five
49 hundred dollars; referee, one hundred dollars; judges, one hundred
50 dollars; and amateur combative sports participants, fifty dollars. Each
51 license or renewal thereof issued pursuant to this subdivision on or
52 after October first shall be effective for a license year expiring on
53 the thirtieth day of September following the date of its issuance. The
54 annual license fee prescribed by this subdivision shall be the license
55 fee due and payable therefor and shall be paid in advance at the time
56 application is made therefor, and each such license may be renewed for
S. 4531 5
1 periods of one year upon the payment of the annual license fee
2 prescribed by this subdivision. Within three years from the date of
3 payment and upon the audit of the comptroller, the commission may refund
4 any fee, unforfeited posted guarantee or tax paid pursuant to this
5 section, for which no license is issued or no service rendered or refund
6 that portion of the payment that is in excess of the amount prescribed
7 by statute.
8 8. (a) Every application for a license shall be in writing, shall be
9 addressed to the commission, shall be subscribed by the applicant, and
10 affirmed by him as true under the penalties of perjury, and shall set
11 forth such facts as the provisions hereof and the rules and regulations
12 of the commission may require.
13 (b) When an application is made for a license under this section, the
14 commission may cause the fingerprints of such applicant, or if such
15 applicant be a corporation, of the officers of such corporation, or if
16 such applicant be a limited liability company, the manager of such
17 limited liability company to be taken in duplicate. The applicant shall
18 be responsible for the cost of having his fingerprints taken. If such
19 fingerprints are taken, one copy shall be transmitted to the division of
20 criminal justice services in accordance with the rules and regulations
21 of the division of criminal justice services and one shall remain on
22 file in the office of the commission. No such fingerprint may be
23 inspected by any person, other than a peace officer, except on order of
24 a judge or justice of a court of record. The division is hereby author-
25 ized to transmit criminal history information to the commission for the
26 purposes of this paragraph. The information obtained by any such fing-
27 erprint examination shall be for the guidance of the commission in the
28 exercise of its discretion in granting or withholding the license. The
29 commission shall provide such applicant with a copy of his or her crimi-
30 nal history record, if any, together with a copy of article 23-A of the
31 correction law, and inform such applicant of his or her right to seek
32 correction of any incorrect information contained in such record pursu-
33 ant to regulations and procedures established by the division of crimi-
34 nal justice services. All determinations to issue, renew, suspend or
35 revoke a license shall be made in accordance with subdivision 16 of
36 section 296 of the executive law and article 23-A of the correction law.
37 9. (a) If in the judgment of the commission the financial responsibil-
38 ity, experience, character and general fitness of an applicant, includ-
39 ing in the case of corporations its officers and stockholders, are such
40 that the participation of such applicant will be consistent with the
41 best interests of amateur combative sports, the purposes of this section
42 including the safety of amateur combative sports participants, and in
43 the public interest, convenience or necessity, the commission shall
44 grant a license in accordance with the provisions contained in this
45 subdivision.
46 (b) Any amateur combative sports participant applying for a license or
47 renewal of a license under this subdivision shall undergo a comprehen-
48 sive physical examination including clinical neurological and neuropsy-
49 chological examinations by a physician approved by the commission. If,
50 at the time of such examination, there is any indication of brain inju-
51 ry, or for any other reason the physician deems it appropriate, the
52 amateur combative sports participant shall be required to undergo
53 further neurological and neuropsychological examinations by a neurolo-
54 gist including, but not limited to, a computed tomography or medically
55 equivalent procedure. The commission shall not issue a license to an
56 amateur combative sports participant until such examinations are
S. 4531 6
1 completed and reviewed by the commission. The results of all such exam-
2 inations herein required shall become a part of the amateur combative
3 sports participant's permanent medical record as maintained by the
4 commission. The cost of all such examinations called for in this subdi-
5 vision shall be assumed by the state if such examinations are performed
6 by a physician or neurologist approved by the commission.
7 (c) Any amateur combative sports participant licensed under this chap-
8 ter shall, as a condition of licensure, waive right of confidentiality
9 of medical records relating to treatment of any physical condition which
10 relates to his ability to fight. All medical reports submitted to, and
11 all medical records of the medical advisory board or the commission
12 relative to the physical examination or condition of amateur combative
13 sports participants shall be considered confidential, and shall be open
14 to examination only to the commission or its authorized representative,
15 to the licensed participant, manager or chief second upon written appli-
16 cation to examine said records, or upon the order of a court of compe-
17 tent jurisdiction in an appropriate case.
18 10. No entity shall have, either directly or indirectly, any finan-
19 cial interest in an amateur combative sports participant competing on
20 premises owned or leased by the entity, or in which such entity is
21 otherwise interested except pursuant to the specific written authori-
22 zation of the commission.
23 11. No amateur combative sports participant shall be paid for services
24 or receive any form of pecuniary gain for participating in any amateur
25 combative sports match or exhibition.
26 12. No licensed entity shall knowingly engage in a course of conduct
27 in which amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions are arranged
28 where one amateur combative sports participant has skills or experience
29 significantly in excess of the other amateur combative sports partic-
30 ipant so that a mismatch results with the potential of physical harm to
31 the amateur combative sports participant. If such action occurs, the
32 commission may exercise its powers to discipline under subdivisions
33 thirteen and fourteen of this section.
34 13. Any entity, licensed under the provisions of this section, that
35 shall knowingly violate any rule or order of the commission or any
36 provision of this section, in addition to any other penalty by law
37 prescribed, shall be liable to a civil penalty not exceeding five thou-
38 sand dollars to be imposed by the commission, to be sued for by the
39 attorney general in the name of the people of the state of New York if
40 directed by the commission. The amount of the penalty collected by the
41 commission or recovered in any such action, or paid to the commission
42 upon a compromise as hereinafter provided, shall be transmitted by the
43 department of state into the state treasury and credited to the general
44 fund. The commission, for cause shown, may extend the time for the
45 payment of such penalty and, by compromise, may accept less than the
46 amount of such penalty as imposed in settlement thereof.
47 14. (a) Any license issued under the provisions of this section may be
48 revoked or suspended by the commission for the reason therein stated,
49 that the licensee has, in the judgment of the commission, been guilty of
50 an act detrimental to the interests of amateur combative sports general-
51 ly or to the public interest, convenience or necessity.
52 (b) Without otherwise limiting the discretion of the commission as
53 provided in this section, the commission may suspend or revoke a license
54 or refuse to renew or issue a license, if it shall find that the appli-
55 cant or participant: (1) has been convicted of a crime in any jurisdic-
56 tion; (2) is associating or consorting with any person who has or
S. 4531 7
1 persons who have been convicted of a crime or crimes in any jurisdiction
2 or jurisdictions; (3) has been guilty of or attempted any fraud or
3 misrepresentation in connection with combative sports; or (4) has
4 violated or attempted to violate any law with respect to combative
5 sports in any jurisdiction or any rule, regulation or order of the
6 commission, or shall have violated any rule of combative sports which
7 shall have been approved or adopted by the commission, or has been guil-
8 ty of or engaged in similar, related or like practices. All determi-
9 nations to issue, renew, suspend or revoke a license shall be made in
10 accordance with subdivision 16 of section 296 of the executive law and
11 article 23-A of the correction law as applicable.
12 (c) No such participant may, under any circumstances, compete or
13 appear in an amateur combative sports match or exhibition within ninety
14 days of having suffered a knockout or technical knockout in any such
15 match or exhibition without clearance by the board, or within ninety
16 days of being rendered unconscious in any such match or exhibition where
17 there is evidence of head trauma as determined by the attending commis-
18 sion physician and shall undergo such examinations as required under
19 paragraph (b) of subdivision eighteen of this section. The amateur
20 combative sports participant shall be considered suspended from amateur
21 combative sports matches or exhibitions by the commission and shall
22 forfeit his license to the commission during such period and such
23 license shall not be returned to the participant until the participant
24 has met all requirements, medical and otherwise, for reinstatement of
25 such license. All such suspensions shall be recorded in the partic-
26 ipant's license by a commission official.
27 (d) The commission may at any time suspend, revoke or deny a partic-
28 ipant's license for medical reasons at the recommendation of the board.
29 (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if any other state
30 shall revoke a licensee's license to compete or appear in a professional
31 combative sports match or exhibition in that state based on a knowing
32 and intentional engagement in any prohibited practices of such state,
33 the commission may act to revoke any license to compete or appear in an
34 amateur combative sports match or exhibition issued to such licensee
35 pursuant to the provisions of this section.
36 (f) The commission may suspend any license it has issued by a dated
37 notice to that effect to the suspended licensee, mailed or delivered to
38 the licensee, and specifying the effective date and term of the suspen-
39 sion, provided however that the commission representative in charge of a
40 contest or exhibition may then and there temporarily suspend any license
41 issued by the commission without such notice. In the event of a tempo-
42 rary suspension, the commission shall mail or deliver the notice to the
43 suspended licensee within three business days after the temporary
44 suspension. In either case such suspension may be without any advance
45 hearing. Upon the receipt of such notice of suspension, the suspended
46 licensee may apply to the commission for a hearing on the matter to
47 determine whether such suspension should be rescinded. Such application
48 for a hearing must be in writing and must be received by the commission
49 within thirty days after the date of notice of suspension. The commis-
50 sion shall have the authority to revoke any license issued by it. Before
51 any license is so revoked, the licensee will be offered the opportunity
52 at a hearing held by or on behalf of the commission to show cause why
53 the license should not be revoked. The commission shall offer the oppor-
54 tunity for a hearing to an affected person before taking any final
55 action negatively affecting such person's individual privileges or prop-
56 erty granted by a license duly issued by the commission or a contract
S. 4531 8
1 approved by and filed with the commission. In all such hearings, licen-
2 sees and other witnesses shall testify under oath or affirmation, which
3 may be administered by any commissioner or authorized representative of
4 the commission actually present. The commission shall be the sole judge
5 of the relevancy and competency of testimony and other evidence, the
6 credibility of witnesses, and the sufficiency of evidence. Hearings may
7 be conducted by representatives of the commission in the discretion of
8 the commission. In such cases, the commission representatives conducting
9 the hearing shall submit findings of fact and recommendations to the
10 commission, which shall not be binding on the commission.
11 15. All buildings or structures used or intended to be used for hold-
12 ing or giving such amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions shall
13 be properly ventilated and provided with fire exits and fire escapes,
14 and in all manner conform to the laws, ordinances and regulations
15 pertaining to buildings in the city, town or village where situated.
16 16. No person under the age of eighteen years shall participate in any
17 amateur combative sports match or exhibition, and no person under
18 sixteen years of age shall be permitted to attend as a spectator;
19 provided, however, that a person under the age of sixteen shall be
20 permitted to attend as a spectator if accompanied by a parent or guardi-
21 an.
22 17. (a) No amateur combative sports match or exhibition shall be more
23 than three rounds in length. No participant shall be allowed to partic-
24 ipate in more than three matches or exhibitions or compete for more than
25 sixty minutes within seventy-two consecutive hours. No participant
26 shall be allowed to compete in any such match or exhibition without
27 wearing a mouthguard and a protective groin cup. At each amateur comba-
28 tive sports match or exhibition, there shall be in attendance a duly
29 licensed referee who shall direct and control the same. Before starting
30 such contest the referee shall ascertain from each participant the name
31 of his manager or chief second, and shall hold such manager or chief
32 second responsible for the conduct of his assistant seconds during the
33 progress of the match or exhibition. There shall also be in attendance,
34 three duly licensed judges who shall at the termination of each such
35 amateur combative sports match or exhibition render their decision. The
36 winner of such match or exhibition shall be determined in accordance
37 with a scoring system prescribed by the commission. Provided, however,
38 that a participant may terminate the contest by signalling to the refer-
39 ee that such participant submits to the opponent.
40 (b) The commission may by rule, regulation or order, require the pres-
41 ence of any medical equipment and personnel at each amateur combative
42 sports match or exhibition as is necessary or beneficial for the safety
43 and protection of the contestants; and may also require the presence of
44 an ambulance or other apparatus at the site of any such match or exhibi-
45 tion or the promulgation of an emergency medical plan in lieu thereof.
46 (c) The commission shall prescribe by rule or regulation the responsi-
47 bilities of managers, trainers and chief seconds prior to, during and
48 after an amateur combative sports match or exhibition in order to
49 promote the safety of the participants at all times.
50 (d) The commission shall require by rule or regulation that any
51 amateur combative sports participant licensed under this section present
52 to a designated commission official, before each match or exhibition in
53 which he fights in this state, a license which shall include but not be
54 limited to the following information: (1) the participant's name, photo-
55 graph, social security number, date of birth, and other identifying
56 information; (2) the participant's prior match or exhibition history
S. 4531 9
1 including the dates, location, and decision of such matches or exhibi-
2 tions; and (3) the participant's medical history, relating to any phys-
3 ical condition, medical test or procedure which relates to his ability
4 to fight, and a record of all medical suspensions.
5 18. (a) All participants must be examined by a physician designated by
6 the commission before entering the ring and each such physician shall
7 immediately file with the commission a written report of such examina-
8 tion. The cost of any such examination, as prescribed by a schedule of
9 fees established by the commission, shall be paid by the entity conduct-
10 ing the match or exhibition to the commission, which shall then pay the
11 fee covering such cost to the examining physician, in accordance with
12 the rules of the commission.
13 (b) Any amateur combative sports participant licensed or permitted
14 under this section rendered unconscious or suffering head trauma as
15 determined by the attending physician shall be immediately examined by
16 the attending commission physician and shall be required to undergo
17 neurological and neuropsychological examinations by a neurologist
18 including but not limited to a computed tomography or medically equiv-
19 alent procedure. Any participant so injured shall not appear in any
20 match or exhibition until results of such examinations are reviewed by
21 the commission. The results of all such examinations herein required
22 shall become a part of the participant's permanent medical records as
23 maintained by the commission and shall be used by the commission to
24 determine whether a participant shall be permitted to appear in any
25 future amateur combative sports match or exhibition. The costs of all
26 such examinations called for in this paragraph shall be assumed by the
27 entity or promoter if such examinations are performed by a physician
28 approved by the commission.
29 (c) The commission may at any time require a licensed or permitted
30 participant to undergo a physical examination, including any neurologi-
31 cal or neuropsychological test or procedure. The cost of such exam shall
32 be assumed by the state.
33 19. (a) It shall be the duty of every entity licensed to conduct an
34 amateur combative sports match or exhibition, to have in attendance at
35 every match or exhibition at least one physician designated by the
36 commission as the rules shall provide. The commission may establish a
37 schedule of fees to be paid by the licensee to cover the cost of such
38 attendance. Such fees shall be paid to the commission, which shall then
39 pay such fees to the physicians entitled thereto, in accordance with the
40 rules of the commission.
41 (b) The physician shall terminate any amateur combative sports match
42 or exhibition if in the opinion of such physician any participant has
43 received severe punishment or is in danger of serious physical injury.
44 In the event of any serious physical injury, such physician shall imme-
45 diately render any emergency treatment necessary, recommend further
46 treatment or hospitalization if required, and fully report the entire
47 matter to the commission within twenty-four hours and if necessary,
48 subsequently thereafter. Such physician may also require that the
49 injured participant and his manager or chief second remain in the ring
50 or on the premises or report to a hospital after the contest for such
51 period of time as such physician deems advisable.
52 (c) Such physician may enter the ring at any time during an amateur
53 combative sports match or exhibition and may terminate the match or
54 exhibition if in his opinion the same is necessary to prevent severe
55 punishment or serious physical injury to a participant.
S. 4531 10
1 20. (a) All entities having licenses as promoters shall continuously
2 provide insurance for the protection of licensed amateur combative
3 sports participants, appearing in amateur combative sports matches or
4 exhibitions. Such insurance coverage shall provide for reimbursement to
5 the licensed athlete for medical, surgical and hospital care, with a
6 minimum limit of fifty thousand dollars for injuries sustained while
7 participating in any program operated under the control of such licensed
8 promoter and for a payment of one hundred thousand dollars to the estate
9 of any deceased athlete where such death is occasioned by injuries
10 received during the course of a match or exhibition in which such
11 licensed athlete participated under the promotion or control of any
12 licensed promoter. The commission may from time to time, in its
13 discretion, increase the amount of such minimum limits.
14 (b) The failure to pay premiums on such insurance as is required by
15 paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be cause for the suspension or
16 the revocation of the license of such defaulting promoter.
17 21. (a) Judges for any amateur combative sports match or exhibition
18 under the jurisdiction of the commission shall be selected by the
19 commission from a list of qualified licensed judges maintained by the
20 commission.
21 (b) Any amateur combative sport participant, manager or chief second
22 may protest the assignment of a judge to an amateur combative sports
23 match or exhibition and the protesting amateur combative sports partic-
24 ipant, manager or chief second may be heard by the commission or its
25 designee if such protest is timely. If the protest is untimely it shall
26 be summarily rejected.
27 (c) Each person seeking to be licensed as a judge by the commission
28 shall be required to submit to or provide proof of an eye examination
29 and annually thereafter on the anniversary of the issuance of the
30 license. Each person seeking to be an amateur combative sports judge in
31 the state shall be certified as having completed a training program as
32 approved by the commission and shall have passed a written examination
33 approved by the commission covering aspects of amateur combative sports
34 including, but not limited to, the rules of the sport, the law of the
35 state relating to the commission, and basic first aid. The commission
36 shall establish continuing education programs to keep licensees current
37 on areas of required knowledge.
38 (d) Each person seeking a license to be an amateur combative sports
39 judge in this state shall be required to fill out a financial question-
40 naire certifying under penalty of perjury full disclosure of the judge's
41 financial situation on a questionnaire to be promulgated by the commis-
42 sion. Such questionnaire shall be in a form and manner approved by the
43 commission and shall provide information as to areas of actual or poten-
44 tial conflicts of interest as well as appearances of such conflicts,
45 including financial responsibility. Within forty-eight hours of any
46 amateur combative sports match or exhibition, each combative sports
47 judge shall file with the commission a financial disclosure statement in
48 such form and manner as shall be acceptable to the commission.
49 (e) Only a person licensed by the commission may judge an amateur
50 combative sports match or exhibition.
51 22. The weights and classes of amateur combative sport participants
52 and the rules and regulations of amateur combative sports shall be
53 prescribed by the commission.
54 23. No amateur combative sports match or exhibition or training activ-
55 ity shall be permitted in any ring or fighting area unless such ring or
56 fighting area has been inspected and approved by the commission. The
S. 4531 11
1 commission shall prescribe standard acceptable size and quality require-
2 ments for rings or fighting areas and appurtenances thereto.
3 24. Any entity who intentionally, directly or indirectly conducts,
4 holds or gives an amateur combative sports match or exhibition or
5 participates either directly or indirectly in any such match or exhibi-
6 tion as a referee, judge, corporation treasurer or amateur combative
7 sports participant, without first having procured an appropriate license
8 or permit as prescribed in this section shall be guilty of a misdemea-
9 nor.
10 § 3. Section 6 of chapter 912 of the laws of 1920 relating to the
11 regulation of boxing, sparring and wrestling, as amended by chapter 437
12 of the laws of 2002 and subdivision 1 as designated and subdivision 2 as
13 added by chapter 673 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
14 § 6. Jurisdiction of commission. 1. The commission shall have and
15 hereby is vested with the sole direction, management, control and juris-
16 diction over all such boxing and sparring matches or exhibitions or
17 amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions to be conducted, held or
18 given within the state of New York and over all licenses to any and all
19 persons who participate in such boxing or sparring matches or exhibi-
20 tions or amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions and over any
21 and all gyms, clubs, training camps and other organizations that main-
22 tain training facilities providing contact sparring for persons who
23 prepare for participation in such boxing or sparring matches or exhibi-
24 tions or amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions, and over the
25 promotion of professional wrestling exhibitions or amateur combative
26 sports matches or exhibitions to the extent provided for in sections 5,
27 9, 19, 20, 28-a, 28-b and 33 of this act, except as otherwise provided
28 in this act.
29 2. The commission is authorized and directed to require that all sites
30 wherein boxing, sparring and wrestling matches and exhibitions or
31 amateur combative sports matches or exhibitions are conducted shall
32 comply with state and applicable local sanitary codes appropriate to
33 school athletic facilities.
34 § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
35 have become a law.
