STAND. COM. REP. NO. 501-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2223

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2223 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOXING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to update the law to reflect practices currently being followed in the boxing industry by conforming chapter 440, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Boxing Contests, which regulates professional and amateur boxing contests, to the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (Boxing Act).

This bill amends chapter 440, HRS, by among other things:

(1) Defining "club" to make it synonymous with the term "promoter";

(2) Requiring Boxing Commission approval of deputy commissioners appointed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

(3) Prohibiting Boxing Commission members from receiving compensation from promoters or holding financial interests in contestants in contests held by licensed promoters; and

(4) Requiring the Boxing Commission to adopt rules establishing:

(A) Procedures to deny a boxer authorization to fight;

(B) Procedures to enforce, review, and revoke boxer suspensions; and

(C) A boxing registry and issuance of a boxer identification card;

(5) Denying promoter's licenses to persons convicted of crimes relating to gambling;

(6) Requiring promoters to comply with license, bond, boxer medical insurance, Boxing Commission contract review, and other specified requirements before receiving approval to hold a boxing contest;

(7) Increasing the number of physicians required at boxing contests to two physicians and requiring the immediate examination of contestants knocked down or severely beaten about the head; and

(8) Increasing penalties for violation of chapter 440, HRS, or the rules of the Boxing Commission from $500 to $5,000 for each violation.

The state Boxing Commission commented on this bill.

Your Committee finds that chapter 440, HRS, has not been substantially amended since 1986, and that the federal Boxing Act, enacted in 1996, improved and expanded the system of safety precautions to protect the welfare of professional boxers. By amending chapter 440, HRS, to adopt the provisions of the federal Boxing Act, the state Boxing Commission will be able to provide better oversight of the boxing industry.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2223 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair