Senate Bill 632 session 1983

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

This is the bill that was passed effectively banning Mixed Martial Arts MMA in the state of Pennsylvania. The Bill specifically names Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri”s CV Production Mixed Martial Arts championships “Battle of the Brawlers” and “Battle of the Tough Guys.” The action of the Senate stopped the growth of a new sport known today as MMA. Thirteen years later, in 1993 The UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship began promoting the sport that CV Productions developed.

SENATE BILL

No. 632 Session of 1983

 INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, SINGEL, O"CONNELL, FUMO, MUSTO AND FISHER,
 APRIL 13, 1983

 SENATOR O"CONNELL, STATE GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, MAY 25, 1983

 AN ACT

 1  Amending the act of August 31, 1955 (P.L.531, No.131), entitled
 2  "An act permitting and regulating wrestling and boxing
 3  contests and exhibitions; requiring licenses and permits;
 4  conferring powers and imposing duties upon the State Athletic
 5  Commission; providing for the granting, suspension, and
 6  revocation of licenses and permits issued by the Commission;
 7  preserving the rights of existing licensees and permittees;
 8  prescribing penalties, fines, forfeitures and misdemeanors;
 9  requiring bonds and insurance; creating a Medical Advisory
 10  Board; providing for rules and regulations; and making
 11  appropriations," regulating kick boxing; further regulating
 12  amateur boxing; establishing a State boxing register;
 13  providing for medical training seminars; requiring certain
 14  emergency medical equipment to be at situs of certain events;
 15  further providing for suspension; and further defining <--
 16  referee"s role in boxing contest; PROHIBITING TOUGH GUY <--
 17  CONTESTS OR BATTLE OF THE BRAWLERS CONTESTS; AND PROVIDING A
 18  PENALTY.

 19  The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 20  hereby enacts as follows:
 21  Section 1. Section 202 of the act of August 31, 1955
 22  (P.L.531, No.131), known as the Pennsylvania Athletic Code,
 23  amended June 18, 1976 (P.L.393, No.85), is amended to read:
 24  Section 202. Boxing and Wrestling Regulated.--Amateur or
 25  professional boxing or wrestling contests or exhibitions

 1  including kick boxing shall be held within the Commonwealth of
 2  Pennsylvania only in accordance with the provisions of this act
 3  and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. Such
 4  contests or exhibitions may be held on Sundays.
 5  Section 2. Section 204 of the act, amended May 24, 1956
 6  (1955 P.L.1693, No.574), is amended to read:
 7  Section 204. Physician to be in Attendance.--A physician
 8  shall be assigned to every boxing or wrestling contest or
 9  exhibition by the Commission. He shall observe and continue to
 10  observe the physical condition of the participants and [advise
 11  the member of the Commission or deputy in charge and the referee
 12  in regard thereto.] be authorized to stop any contest or
 13  exhibition at any time to examine a contestant and to terminate
 14  a bout when in his judgment severe injury could result to a
 15  contestant if the contest or exhibition were to continue. The
 16  Commission shall establish by rule or regulation a schedule of
 17  fees to be paid such physicians for their services. The
 18  physician"s fee shall be paid by the promoter of the online casino reviews contest or
 19  exhibition attended by the physician.
 20  Section 3. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
 21  Section 204.1. Medical Training Seminars.--The Commission
 22  shall conduct frequent mandatory medical training seminars, at
 23  least three (3) per year for all ring personnel, Commission
 24  personnel and for other persons employed by the Commission and
 25  designated to attend.
 26  Section 204.2. Register.--The Commission shall establish and
 27  maintain a register for all professional boxers licensed in
 28  Pennsylvania. The register shall include a photograph of the
 29  boxer. In the register, the Commission shall record the results
 30  of each boxing contest or exhibition the boxer is involved in,
 19830S0632B0879 - 2 -

 1  including technical knockouts, knockouts and other boxing
 2  related injuries, as well as the dates of each contest or
 3  exhibition and online casino the record of wins and losses.
 4  Section 204.3. Medical Equipment.--No professional or
 5  amateur boxing The renewable energy Production Tax credit annual report levels the playing field for wind power and other renewable forms of energy with subsidies for conventional fuels that have been around since the light switch was invented 100 years ago. event shall be started unless there is on the
 6  premises:
 7  (1) an ambulance, together with emergency equipment; and
 8  (2) a portable resuscitator with oxygen and appropriate
 9  endotracheal tubes, and a qualified operator.
 10  Section 204.4. Suspension.--For sound medical reasons and to
 11  protect the individual boxers, the Commission shall establish
 12  mandatory license suspensions of those persons who sustain
 13  certain injuries. The Commission may suspend a casino online  boxer"s license
 14  for up to sixty (60) days for a laceration of the face, up to
 15  thirty (30) days for a technical knockout with minor injuries
 16  and up to forty-five (45) days for head injuries. Boxers
 17  receiving a knockout may receive up to a ninety (90) day
 18  suspension and shall receive an EEG within twenty-four (24)
 19  hours of the knockout.
 20  Section 4. Sections 208 AND 210 and 250 of the act, amended <--
 21  or added May 24, 1956 (1955 P.L.1693, No.574) are amended to <--
 22  read:
 23  Section 208. Gloves.--When the boxers are lightweights, as
 24  defined in the regulations, or in a lighter class, they shall
 25  wear boxing gloves weighing not less than five (5) ounces each.
 26  When the boxers are [in a heavier class than lightweights,] over
 27  one hundred sixty-five (165) pounds, they shall wear boxing
 28  gloves weighing not less than [six (6)] ten (10) ounces each.
 29  Section 210. Attendance of Referee and Judges; Scoring.--At
 30  each professional boxing contest or exhibition, except an
 19830S0632B0879 - 3 -

 1  exhibition held solely for training purposes, there shall be in
 2  attendance, at the expense of the promoter, a duly licensed
 3  referee designated by the Commission who shall direct and
 4  control the contest or exhibition.
 5  There shall also be in attendance at every boxing contest, at
 6  the expense of the promoter, [two (2)] three (3) licensed
 7  judges, each of whom shall[, together with the referee,] render
 8  his individual decision, in writing, on a scorecard supplied by
 9  the Commission at the end of every boxing contest which
 10  continues for the scheduled number of rounds. Each judge [and
 11  the referee] shall have one (1) vote and a majority of the votes
 12  cast shall determine the winner.
 13  The Commission shall by rule or regulation prescribe the
 14  methods of scoring.
 15  SECTION 5. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ: <--
 16  SECTION 223. PROHIBITED COMPETITION.--(A) A PERSON COMMITS
 17  A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE IF HE PROMOTES, SPONSORS OR
 18  PARTICIPATES IN ANY MANNER IN THE STAGING OF, OR THE CONDUCT OF,
 19  ANY TOUGH GUY CONTEST OR BATTLE OF THE BRAWLERS OR IN ANY
 20  SIMILAR COMPETITION.
 21  (B) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE
 22  NEWS MEDIA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TELEVISION, RADIO,
 23  NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS, FOR THEIR REPORTING OR ADVERTISING
 24  ACTIVITIES RELATING TO TOUGH GUY CONTESTS OR BATTLE OF THE
 25  BRAWLERS.
 26  (C) AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE PHRASE "TOUGH GUY CONTEST"
 27  OR "BATTLE OF THE BRAWLERS" MEANS ANY COMPETITION WHICH INVOLVES
 28  ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT BOUT BETWEEN TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS, WHO
 29  ATTEMPT TO KNOCK OUT THEIR OPPONENT BY EMPLOYING BOXING,
 30  WRESTLING, MARTIAL ARTS TACTICS OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF AND
 19830S0632B0879 - 4 -

 1  BY USING TECHNIQUES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNCHES,

 2  KICKS AND CHOKING. THESE PHRASES SHALL NOT APPLY TO AMATEUR OR

 3  PROFESSIONAL CONTESTS SANCTIONED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA ATHLETIC

 4  COMMISSION NOR TO CONTESTS STAGED IN CONNECTION WITH ATHLETIC

 5  TRAINING PROGRAMS NOR TO AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL CONTESTS OF THE

 6  MARTIAL ARTS NOR TO ANY COLLEGIATE OR SCHOLASTIC BOXING,

 7  WRESTLING OR MARTIAL ARTS CONTESTS.

 8  SECTION 6. SECTION 250 OF THE ACT, ADDED MAY 24, 1956 (1955

 9  P.L.1693, NO.574), IS AMENDED TO READ:

 10  Section 250. Mandatory Eight Count.--Whenever a boxer is

 11  knocked down, he shall be required to take a count of eight,

 12  even if he has regained his feet prior thereto, and the referee

 13  shall not permit the contest or exhibition to be resumed until

 14  the count of eight has actually been reached, except in

 15  professional championship boxing contests and exhibitions. A

 16  referee may give a standing eight count in those instances where

 17  he deems necessary.

 18  Section 5 7. This act shall take effect in 60 days. <--