STAND. COM. REP. NO.  759-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2399

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the health and safety of amateur contestants in mixed martial arts (MMA) contests.  Specifically, this bill:

 

     (1)  Regulates amateur MMA by placing it under MMA regulation enforced by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA);

 

     (2)  Allows DCCA to delegate the control and supervision of amateur MMA contests to a recognized national amateur MMA association;

 

     (3)  Exempts amateur MMA contestants from the licensing requirements; and

 

     (4)  Requires amateur MMA contestants to pass a physical examination conducted by a licensed physician prior to engaging in an MMA contest.

 

     DCCA testified in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by replacing its contents with the provisions of its amended companion bill, H.B. No. 2639, H.D. 2, that your Committee reported out earlier this session.  The amendments include:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that amateur MMA contests shall not offer monetary compensation;

 

     (2)  Requiring amateur MMA contestants to be at least 18 years of age;

 

     (3)  Providing a definition of "professional mixed martial arts contestant";

 

     (4)  Stipulating that amateur MMA contests are considered MMA contests by definition;

 

     (5)  Removing the requirement that a licensed referee of an MMA contest has at least one year of experience in refereeing a match or exhibition;

 

     (6)  Removing the requirement that a promoter of an MMA contest is solely responsible for the cost of providing a medical report of each contestant to the Director of DCCA prior to the contest;

 

     (7)  Changing the event fees charged to a licensed promoter;

 

     (8)  Requiring individuals to be at least 18 years of age to apply for a license as a professional MMA contestant;

 

     (9)  Repealing additional surcharge fees charged to promoters during their license renewal period for deposit into the Compliance Resolution Fund; and

 

     (10) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2399, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair