UNARMED COMBAT ACT REVISIONS                                                       S.B. 1054 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 1054 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Robertson

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Unarmed Combat Regulatory Act to do the following:

-- Prohibit an individual from receiving a contestant license unless he or she was at least 18.

-- Expand the responsibilities of an inspector, and allow a person previously approved by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to be an inspector.

-- Allow the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission to issue an administrative fine of up to $10,000 if disciplinary action were taken against a person related to the preparation for or occurrence of an amateur contest or event, or any other action taken in conjunction with an amateur contest or event.

-- Apply to "professional" events or contests a provision under which disciplinary action may include an administrative fine of up to 100% of a licensee's purse.

-- Require a licensed promoter that presents an unarmed combat event to submit a request for the event's approval to LARA at least 30 days, instead of five days, before the event.

-- Delete a requirement that a licensed promoter that presents an unarmed combat event include the names of the emergency medical technicians attending the event in his or her request to LARA for the event's approval.

-- Delete the definition of "weight class" and a requirement that a promoter ensure that a contestant is in the same class as or of comparable weight to another contestant, and require LARA to establish weight classes for contestants by rule, instead.

-- Require a promoter to ensure that individuals submitted medical information to LARA, instead of to the promoter, before competing as a contestant, and require an ophthalmologic exam to have been performed within 12 months, rather than 180 days, before a contest or event.

MCL 338.3620 et al.                                                 Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Michigan Unarmed Combat Fund, used by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for the regulation of unarmed combat, and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would establish an alternative maximum administrative fine of $10,000 for those who violate the Act in relation to an amateur contest or event. Under current law, violators are subject to a maximum of a $100,000 fine if they are not a contestant, or 100% of the contest purse. It is not clear whether this change would increase or decrease revenue, as the maximum fine would be decreased for noncontestants in amateur events, but would be potentially higher for contestants participating in an event with a purse smaller than $10,000. In any case, the fiscal impact of this change is not anticipated to be significant.

Date Completed:  12-5-16                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

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.