100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2856

 

Introduced , by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 105/1  from Ch. 111, par. 5001
225 ILCS 105/6  from Ch. 111, par. 5006
225 ILCS 105/8.5 new

    Amends the Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act. Changes the definition of "amateur" to allow the person to receive a stipend for an athletic club or sponsor of the contestant to cover the cost of training and participation expenses not to exceed $1,500. Provides that "full-contact martial arts" includes, but is not limited to, mixed martial arts and kickboxing techniques. Defines "incumbent sanctioning body". Exempts the following from oversight by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation: (1) amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests that occur in facilities owned, operated, or managed by a State, county, or local public entity and are conducted by a sanctioning body and (2) amateur boxing, martial arts, or full-contact martial arts contests that are sponsored by a not-for-profit organization and conducted by a sanctioning body. Requires the sponsor of a qualified contest exempt from Department oversight to notify the Department of its intent to sponsor events. Effective immediately.


LRB100 10434 SMS 20643 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2856LRB100 10434 SMS 20643 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act is
5amended by changing Sections 1 and 6 and adding Section 8.5 as
6follows:
 
7    (225 ILCS 105/1)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5001)
8    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2022)
9    Sec. 1. Short title and definitions.
10    (a) This Act may be cited as the Boxing and Full-contact
11Martial Arts Act.
12    (b) As used in this Act:
13        "Department" means the Department of Financial and
14    Professional Regulation.
15        "Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and
16    Professional Regulation.
17        "Board" means the State of Illinois Athletic Board
18    established pursuant to this Act.
19        "License" means the license issued for promoters,
20    professionals, or officials in accordance with this Act.
21        "Professional contest" means a boxing or full-contact
22    martial arts competition in which all of the participants
23    competing against one another are professionals and where

 

 

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1    the public is able to attend or a fee is charged.
2        "Permit" means the authorization from the Department
3    to a promoter to conduct professional or amateur contests,
4    or a combination of both.
5        "Promoter" means a person who is licensed and who holds
6    a permit to conduct professional or amateur contests, or a
7    combination of both.
8        Unless the context indicates otherwise, "person"
9    includes, but is not limited to, an individual,
10    association, organization, business entity, gymnasium, or
11    club.
12        "Judge" means a person licensed by the Department who
13    is located at ringside or adjacent to the fighting area
14    during a professional contest and who has the
15    responsibility of scoring the performance of the
16    participants in that professional contest.
17        "Referee" means a person licensed by the Department who
18    has the general supervision of and is present inside of the
19    ring or fighting area during a professional contest.
20        "Amateur" means a person registered by the Department
21    who is not competing for, and has never received or
22    competed for, any purse or other article of value, directly
23    or indirectly, either for participating in any contest
24    covered by this Act or for the expenses of training
25    therefor, other than a non-monetary prize that does not
26    exceed $50 in value or a stipend for an athletic club or

 

 

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1    sponsor of the contestant to cover the cost of training and
2    participation expenses not to exceed $1,500.
3        "Professional" means a person licensed by the
4    Department who competes for a money prize, purse, or other
5    type of compensation in a professional contest held in
6    Illinois.
7        "Second" means a person licensed by the Department who
8    is present at any professional contest to provide
9    assistance or advice to a professional during the contest.
10        "Matchmaker" means a person licensed by the Department
11    who brings together professionals to compete in contests.
12        "Manager" means a person licensed by the Department who
13    is not a promoter and who, under contract, agreement, or
14    other arrangement, undertakes to, directly or indirectly,
15    control or administer the affairs of professionals.
16        "Timekeeper" means a person licensed by the Department
17    who is the official timer of the length of rounds and the
18    intervals between the rounds.
19        "Purse" means the financial guarantee or any other
20    remuneration for which contestants are participating in a
21    professional contest.
22        "Physician" means a person licensed to practice
23    medicine in all its branches under the Medical Practice Act
24    of 1987.
25        "Martial arts" means a discipline or combination of
26    different disciplines that utilizes sparring techniques

 

 

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1    without the intent to injure, disable, or incapacitate
2    one's opponent, such as, but not limited to, Karate, Kung
3    Fu, Judo, Jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, and Kyuki-Do.
4        "Full-contact martial arts" means the use of a singular
5    discipline or a combination of techniques, including, but
6    not limited to, mixed martial arts and kickboxing, from
7    different disciplines of the martial arts, including,
8    without limitation, full-force grappling, kicking, and
9    striking with the intent to injure, disable, or
10    incapacitate one's opponent.
11        "Amateur contest" means a boxing or full-contact
12    martial arts competition in which all of the participants
13    competing against one another are amateurs and where the
14    public is able to attend or a fee is charged.
15        "Contestant" means a person who competes in either a
16    boxing or full-contact martial arts contest.
17        "Address of record" means the designated address
18    recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's
19    application file, license file, or registration file as
20    maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.
21    It is the duty of the applicant or licensee to inform the
22    Department of any change of address and those changes must
23    be made either through the Department's website or by
24    contacting the Department.
25        "Bout" means one match between 2 contestants.
26        "Sanctioning body" means an organization approved by

 

 

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1    the Department under the requirements and standards stated
2    in this Act and the rules adopted under this Act to act as
3    a governing body that sanctions professional or amateur
4    contests.
5        "Incumbent sanctioning body" means an organization
6    that notifies the Department in writing that it is a
7    recognized sanctioning body in more than 10 American
8    states.
9(Source: P.A. 96-663, eff. 8-25-09; 97-119, eff. 7-14-11;
1097-1123, eff. 8-27-12.)
 
11    (225 ILCS 105/6)  (from Ch. 111, par. 5006)
12    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2022)
13    Sec. 6. Restricted contests and events.
14    (a) All professional and amateur contests, or a combination
15of both, in which physical contact is made are prohibited in
16Illinois unless authorized by the Department pursuant to the
17requirements and standards stated in this Act and the rules
18adopted pursuant to this Act. This subsection (a) does not
19apply to any of the following qualified contests:
20        (1) Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts
21    contests conducted by accredited secondary schools,
22    colleges, or universities, although a fee may be charged.
23        (2) Amateur boxing contests that are sanctioned by USA
24    Boxing or any other sanctioning organization approved by
25    the Association of Boxing Commissions.

 

 

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1        (3) Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts
2    contests that: (A) occur in facilities owned, operated, or
3    managed conducted by a State, county, or local public
4    municipal entity, as defined in the Local Governmental and
5    Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act; and (B) are
6    conducted by a sanctioning body approved under this Act.
7        (4) Amateur martial arts contests that are not defined
8    as full-contact martial arts contests under this Act,
9    including, but not limited to, Karate, Kung Fu, Judo,
10    Jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, and Kyuki-Do.
11        (5) Full-contact martial arts contests, as defined by
12    this Act, that are recognized by the International Olympic
13    Committee or are contested in the Olympic Games and are not
14    conducted in an enclosed fighting area or ring.
15        (6) Amateur boxing, martial arts, or full-contact
16    martial arts contests that are sponsored by a
17    not-for-profit organization and conducted by a sanctioning
18    body approved under this Act.
19    No other amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts
20contests shall be permitted unless authorized by the
21Department.
22    (b) The Department shall have the authority to determine
23whether a professional or amateur contest is exempt for
24purposes of this Section.
25    (c) The sponsor of a qualified contest exempt under
26subsection (a) is exempt from Department oversight, but shall

 

 

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1notify the Department of its intent to sponsor events covered
2under this Act.
3(Source: P.A. 96-663, eff. 8-25-09; 97-119, eff. 7-14-11;
497-1123, eff. 8-27-12.)
 
5    (225 ILCS 105/8.5 new)
6    Sec. 8.5. Sanctioning bodies. A sanctioning body must apply
7for approved status with the Department. Within 15 business
8days of an application, the Department must send written
9correspondence to the applicant of the procedures required for
10its approval or disapproval, including at least 2 meetings of
11the Board for the review of the application. The correspondence
12must include, but is not limited to, dates for board meetings,
13required amendments to the application for compliance, and
14paperwork filing requirements. The approval process may not
15exceed 4 months from the date the applicant filed for approved
16status.
17    An incumbent sanctioning body that is registered by the
18Department shall have all the rights and privileges of a
19sanctioning body as defined in this Act.
20    Notwithstanding this Section, all authority given to the
21Department and the Board to review and deny a sanctioning body
22for violations of health and safety standards covered within
23this Act apply.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.