Relating to the regulation of boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling, making penalties applicable, and making an appropriation

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to the regulation of boxing, mixed martial arts, and wrestling under Code chapter 90A. Such regulation is carried out by the state commissioner of athletics, who is also the labor commissioner. The bill revises the definition of “promoter” to specify that a promoter includes a person or business that organizes, holds, advertises, or otherwise conducts any form of competition in which a blow is usually struck, or a maneuver is usually executed, which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury, but does not include the organizer of a private youth martial arts tournament, private test for martial arts belts, developmental contests within private gyms, amateur wrestling, jiu jitsu, or amateur boxing. The bill provides that licensing requirements; punitive actions such as suspension, denial or revocation of licenses, registrations, or authority to participate in contests; and taxation of percent on gross admission receipts, and associated reporting requirements, cost assessments, and penalties, apply to all promoters subject to Code chapter 90A. Under current law, these provisions apply only to the promoter of a professional boxing or wrestling match or event or a mixed martial arts match. The bill provides that specified grounds for emergency suspensions by the commissioner apply to all contestants. Under current law, such grounds apply only to boxers. The bill strikes a requirement that taxes, examination costs, and penalties charged to promoters be used by the commissioner to award grants to organizations that promote amateur boxing matches in Iowa. The bill creates an athletics commissioner revolving fund in the state treasury under the control of the department to consist of moneys collected by the commissioner as fees. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department of workforce development to be used by the commissioner to pay the actual costs and expenses necessary to perform the duties of the commissioner as described in Code chapter 90A. All salaries and expenses properly chargeable to the fund shall be paid from the fund. The bill includes related terminology changes.