LICENSURE: BOXING JUDGES S.B. 295 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 295 (Substitute S-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole) Sponsor: Senator Joel D. Gougeon
Committee: Economic Development, International Trade and Regulatory Affairs
The bill would amend Article 8 of the Occupational Code, which regulates boxing, sparring, and wrestling, to delete wrestling and sparring from the article’s provisions; specify that “boxing club” would mean an organization affiliated with USA Boxing, rather than the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States; and specify criteria for licensure as a boxer or as a judge or referee of boxing matches.
Specifically, the bill would require an applicant for licensure as a judge, referee, or boxer to pass a physical examination acceptable to the Athletic Board of Control, and present evidence of passage to the Department of Commerce. Further, an applicant for licensure as a judge or referee could be required to pass satisfactorily an examination acceptable to the Board and the Department.
An applicant for license as a professional referee also would have to referee unofficially a minimum of 300 rounds of amateur competitive or noncompetitive boxing in a facility that conducted an active boxing program. After a person had successfully completed the examination and refereeing requirements, the Department could issue the applicant a limited license as a referee. Before the person could be issued a full license as a referee, however, he or she would have to officiate at least 12 4-round preliminary contests, at least six 6-round preliminary contests, and at least four 8-round preliminary contests. In addition, an applicant for license as a professional judge would have to score, unofficially, at least 200 rounds of professional boxing. The applicant could judge unofficially only contests that were approved by the Department for that purpose. The Department of Commerce would have to issue a license without an examination to a person who was licensed under the article on the effective date of the bill.
MCL 339.806 et al. Legislative Analyst: L. Burghardt
The provisions in the bill for prelicensure examinations would cost the Department of Commerce between $50,000 and $75,000 to administer.
Date Completed: 10-2-95 Fiscal Analyst: K. Lindquist
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.