SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2007 SESSION


CHAPTER 853
An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-829 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-831.01, relating to the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; boxing and wrestling events; Professional Boxing, Wrestling and Martial Arts Advisory Board.
[H 1798]
Approved April 4, 2007

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 54.1-829 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-831.01 as follows:

§ 54.1-829. License required; bond; physical examination; ambulance; physician; and health insurance.

A. Unless exempted by § 54.1-830, no person shall promote or conduct a boxing, martial arts, or wrestling event in the Commonwealth without first having obtained a license for such event from the Department. No such license shall be granted except to a licensed promoter.

B. Unless exempted by § 54.1-830, no person shall act as a promoter, matchmaker, trainer, boxer or wrestler in the Commonwealth without first having obtained a license for such activity from the Department and such license remains in full force and effect.

C. No license to act as a promoter shall be granted unless the applicant executes and files with the Department a bond, in such penalty as the Department shall determine through regulation, conditioned on the payment of the fees and penalties imposed by this chapter and for the fulfillment of contracts made with boxers and wrestlers in accordance with Department regulations.

D. Each boxer shall, and each wrestler may, be examined prior to entering the ring by a physician who has been licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth for at least five years. The physician shall be appointed by the Department and shall certify in writing that the contestant's physical condition is such that he is physically able to engage in the contest.

E. No boxing event shall be conducted without the continuous presence at ringside of a physician who has been licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth for at least five years, and unless an ambulance is at the site of the boxing event.

F. No boxer shall participate in any event unless covered by a health insurance policy with minimum coverage in an amount determined by Department regulation.

§ 54.1-831.01. Professional Boxing, Wrestling and Martial Arts Advisory Board.

A. The Professional Boxing, Wrestling and Martial Arts Advisory Board (the Board) is established as an advisory board, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government to advise the Director on matters relating to professional boxing and wrestling events and martial arts competitions in the Commonwealth.

B. The Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Director as follows: one representative of the sport of boxing; one representative of the sport of wrestling; one representative of the sport of nontraditional mixed martial arts; one representative of either the sport of boxing, wrestling or nontraditional mixed martial arts; one member who is a martial arts instructor who has obtained the rank of black belt or higher; and two citizen members.  All members shall be residents of the Commonwealth. After the original appointments, all appointments shall be for terms of four years, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired terms. No person shall be eligible to serve for more than two successive full terms.

C. The Board shall elect its chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. The Board shall meet monthly to conduct its business or upon the call of the Director or chair of the Board. Four members shall constitute a quorum.

D. Members of the Board shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2825.

E. Such staff support as is necessary for the conduct of the Board's business shall be furnished by the Department.

2. That the initial appointments of the Professional Boxing, Wrestling and Martial Arts Advisory Board members in accordance with this act shall be staggered as follows: two members shall be appointed for two-year terms, three members shall be appointed for three-year terms, and two members shall be appointed for four-year terms.