D.C. Law 22-228. Boxing and Wrestling Commission Amendment Act of 2018.

AN ACT

To amend the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act of 1975 to rename the Boxing and Wrestling Commission the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission, increase the number of members on the commission from 3 to 5, update the law to include provisions relating to kickboxing and mixed martial arts, create the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission Fund, delegate grant-making authority to the commission, and to amend safety requirements for amateur matches.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Boxing and Wrestling Commission Amendment Act of 2018".

Sec. 2. The Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act of 1975, effective October 8, 1975 (D.C. Law 1-20; D.C. Official Code § 3-601 et seq.), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 3-601) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 2. Purpose.

"It is the purpose of this act to create the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission with the authority to promulgate rules and regulations, to promote the District as a location for boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts events, and to regulate boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts within the District.".

(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 3-602) is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 3. Definitions.

"For purposes of this act, the term:

"(1) "Commission" means the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission established by section 5.

"(2) "Domestic partner" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2(3) of the Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992, effective June 11, 1992 (D.C. Law 9-114; D.C. Official Code § 32-701(3)).

"(3) "Kickboxing" means unarmed stand-up combat that combines boxing with different disciplines of the martial arts, including kicking and striking.

"(4) "Mixed martial arts" means unarmed combat involving the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts, including grappling, kicking, and striking.

"(5) "Participant" means a boxer, wrestler, performer of martial arts, performer of mixed martial arts, second, manager, matchmaker, promoter, referee, judge, timekeeper, announcer, usher, ticket seller, advertising and public relations personnel, and other persons, as the Commission may designate, who are involved or connected with, other than as a spectator, a boxing, wrestling, martial arts, or mixed martial arts contest, match, exhibition, or showing, professional as well as amateur, to be held, given, or shown within the District of Columbia.

"(6) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or club.

"(7) "Sanctioning body" means the organization providing the rules and regulations governing a bout.

"(8) "School, college, or university" means every school, college, or university supported in whole or in part from public funds and every other school, college, or university supported in whole or in part by a religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational, or fraternal organization that is not operated for profit and that no part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

"(9) "Unarmed combat" means boxing or any form of competition in which a blow is usually struck that may reasonably be expected to inflict injury.".

(c) Section 4 (D.C. Official Code § 3-603) is amended by striking the phrase "a Boxing and Wrestling Commission" and inserting the phrase "the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission" in its place.

(d) Section 5(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-604(a)) is amended as follows:

(1) Strike the phrase "a District of Columbia Boxing and Wrestling Commission" and insert the phrase "the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission" in its place.

(2) Strike the phrase "3 members" and insert the phrase "5 members" in its place.

(e) Section 6(a) (D.C. Official Code § 3-605(a)) is amended as follows:

(1) Strike the phrase "boxing, wrestling, and martial arts contests," wherever it appears and insert the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts contests," in its place.

(2) Strike the phrase "boxing, wrestling, or martial arts contests" and insert the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts contests," in its place.

(f) Section 7 (D.C. Official Code § 3-606) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (b) is amended as follows:

(A) Strike the phrase "or martial arts contest" wherever it appears and insert the phrase "kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts contest" in its place.

(B) Strike the phrase "and martial arts contests" and insert the phrase "kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts contests" in its place.

(2) Subsection (j) is amended by striking the phrase "boxing and wrestling" both times it appears and inserting the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts" in its place.

(3) Subsection (k) is amended by striking the phrase "boxing or wrestling" and inserting the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts" in its place.

(4) Subsection (l) is amended by striking the phrase "boxing and wrestling" and inserting the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts" in its place.

(5) A new subsection (k-1) is added to read as follows:

"(k-1) The Commission shall have the power to issue grants to fund programs and initiatives in accordance with the Grant Administration Act of 2013, effective December 24, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-61; D.C. Official Code § 1-328.11 et seq.), District law and regulation, a Mayor's order, or as specified by the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, the Office of Partnerships and Grant Services, or the Office of Contracting and Procurement.".

(6) Subsection (m)(1) is amended by striking the phrase "kickboxers, and practitioners of martial arts," and inserting the phrase "kickboxers, practitioners of martial arts, and practitioners of mixed martial arts," in its place.

(g) Section 8 (D.C. Official Code § 3-607) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking the phrase "to the General Fund." and inserting the phrase "into the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission Fund, established in section 8a." in its place.

(2) Subsection (c)(1) is amended by striking the phrase "boxing or wrestling match," and inserting the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts match," in its place.

(3) Subsection (e) is amended by striking the phrase "and martial arts events" wherever it appears and inserting "kickboxing, martial arts, and mixed martial arts events" in its place.

(h) A new section 8a is added to read as follows:

"Sec. 8a. District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission Fund.

"(a) There is established as a special fund the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission Fund ("Fund"), to be administered by the Commission in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

"(b) There shall be deposited into the Fund:

"(1) All receipts collected by the Commission pursuant to sections 8(b), (c), and (d); and

"(2) Any fines collected pursuant to sections 9(c) or (d).

"(c) Money in the Fund shall be used to carry out the powers of the Commission set forth in section 7.

"(d)(1) The money deposited into the Fund shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.

"(2) Subject to authorization in an approved budget and financial plan, any funds appropriated in the Fund shall be continually available without regard to fiscal year limitation.".

(i) Section 9 (D.C. Official Code § 3-608) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:

(A) Strike the phrase "boxing, wrestling, or martial arts" both times it appears and insert the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts" in its place.

(B) Strike the phrase "fined not more than $1000, or" and insert the phrase "fined or" in its place.

(C) Strike the phrase "Corporation Counsel of" and insert the phrase "Attorney General for" in its place.

(2) Subsection (b) is amended as follows:

(A) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase "Administrative Procedure Act," and inserting the phrase "Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.)," in its place.

(B) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase "in the amount of $1,000 or less;" and inserting the phrase "in an amount that the Commission considers appropriate;" in its place.

(C) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the phrase "Corporation Counsel" and inserting the phrase "the Attorney General" in its place.

(D) Paragraph (5) is amended by striking the phrase "wrestling or the martial arts" and inserting the phrase "wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts" in its place.

(j) Section 11 (D.C. Official Code § 3-610) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:

(A) Strike the phrase "boxing, wrestling, or martial arts match, " and insert the phrase "boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts match," in its place.

(B) Strike the phrase "protective headgear approved by the Commission." and insert the phrase "protective gear required by the event's sanctioning body." in its place.

(2) Subsection (b) is amended by striking the phrase "martial arts, or other" and inserting the phrase "kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts, or other" in its place.

(3) Subsection (c) is amended by striking the phrase "or martial arts match," and inserting the phrase "kickboxing, martial arts, or mixed martial arts match," in its place.

Sec. 3. Applicability.

(a) This act shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan.

(b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of the inclusion of the fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council of the certification.

(c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in the District of Columbia Register.

(2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the applicability of this act.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in event of a veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided on section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code §1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 22-228 (PDF)
  • D.C. Act 22-541 (PDF)
  • 66 DCR 200

Effective

Feb. 22, 2019

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 22-228, the “Boxing and Wrestling Commission Amendment Act of 2018,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 22-509 which was referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Nov. 13, 2018, and Dec. 4, 2018, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 22-541 on Dec. 26, 2018, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 22-228 became effective Feb. 22, 2019.