REVISIONS TO BOXING ACT

House Bill 4447

Sponsor:  Rep. David Robertson

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 4-11-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4447 AS INTRODUCED 3-3-05

The bill would make numerous revisions to the Michigan Boxing Regulatory Act.  Several of the changes are editorial in nature; significant changes are as follows.

·                    Exclude from the definition of "promoter" the venue where the exhibition or contest was being held unless the venue contracted with the individual promoter to be a co-promoter.

·                    Eliminate a general requirement for an applicant for licensure under the act to demonstrate good moral character.  However, the bill would require that an applicant for a promoter's license would have to demonstrate good moral character.  An applicant denied a license under this provision could petition the Michigan Boxing Commission for a review of the denial under Section 46 of the act.

·                    Revise language in the act to clarify that a promoter must file a bond with the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) before an approval for a boxing contest or exhibition is granted.

·                    Replace the requirement for unofficially scoring 200 rounds of amateur boxing in order to seek a license as a professional judge; instead an individual would need to score 200 rounds of professional boxing.

·                    Require DLEG to initiate an action against an applicant or take any other allowable action against a contestant, promoter, or other participant who practiced fraud or deceit in obtaining a license.

·                    In a provision pertaining to departmental rules regarding the application process for a promoter's license, revise the type of background information that must be disclosed.  A requirement that the information must include at least two years of federal income tax returns of principal officers or members and individuals having at least a 10 percent ownership interest in the applicant would be eliminated.  Also, a requirement for the department to utilize the background information to ascertain the applicant's financial stability would also be eliminated.

·                    Eliminate a provision requiring the director of DLEG to withhold a percentage of the purse in a contest until the postcontest drug tests are available.  Instead, the bill would specify that – beginning on the bill's effective date – a promoter's license would be subject to revocation unless at least 10 percent of the purse in a contest or exhibition was withheld or escrowed pending the availability to the department of the results of the postcontest drug test.  The bill would prescribe actions to be followed by the department depending on whether the drug test results confirmed or did not confirm compliance with the act.  This provision would not prohibit a licensed promoter from including a provision in a contract with a professional that required the promoter to withhold 10 percent of the purse until such time as the postcontest drug test results were available to the department.

MCL 338.3611 et al.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact on the State of Michigan or its local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Richard Child

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.