HB1637 Summary

• Renames the "Professional Boxing Act" to the "Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act" and extends regulatory authority from professional to amateur boxing and full-contact martial arts contests.

• Requires amateur competitors to register with the Department 6 months after adoption of amateur rules; prohibits all professional and amateur contests unless authorized by the Department with specified exemptions for school, college, university, and certain sanctioned amateur events.

• Increases civil penalties for unlicensed practice from $5,000 to $10,000 and increases maximum disciplinary fines from $5,000 to $10,000.

• Requires promoters to pay Department of Revenue 3% of first $500,000 and 4% thereafter of gross receipts from broadcasting rights (Internet, cable, television, motion pictures) in addition to existing 7% tax on ticket sales.

• Extends the Professional Boxing Act sunset date from January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2022 under the Regulatory Sunset Act.