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. <--