S*0679(Rat #0118, Act #0073 of 1995)  General Bill, By Passailaigue
 A Bill to amend Section 52-7-30, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the powers of the State Athletic Commission, so as to provide that
 the Commission has supervision over all combative sports in this State, and to
 provide exceptions; to add Section 52-7-35 so as to provide definitions of
 "combative sports" and "weapons"; and to add Section 52-7-145 so as to make
 certain combative sports contests unlawful and to provide penalties for
 violations.-amended title

   03/29/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   03/29/95  Senate Referred to Committee on General SJ-8
   04/18/95  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     General SJ-32
   04/19/95  Senate Amended SJ-129
   04/19/95  Senate Read second time SJ-131
   04/20/95  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-23
   04/25/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-13
   04/25/95  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-13
   05/18/95  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
                     Commerce and Industry HJ-30
   05/24/95  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 30, 1995 HJ-10
   05/30/95  House  Amended HJ-10
   05/30/95  House  Read second time HJ-12
   05/31/95  House  Read third time and returned to Senate with
                     amendments HJ-17
   05/31/95  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled SJ-133
   06/06/95         Ratified R 118
   06/13/95         Became law without Governor's signature
   06/13/95         Effective date 06/13/95
   08/10/95         Copies available
   08/10/95         Act No. 73

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 52-7-30, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE POWERS OF THE STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS SUPERVISION OVER ALL COMBATIVE SPORTS IN THIS STATE, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; TO ADD SECTION 52-7-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS OF "COMBATIVE SPORTS" AND "WEAPONS"; AND TO ADD SECTION 52-7-145 SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN COMBATIVE SPORTS CONTESTS UNLAWFUL AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Supervision of combative sports; exceptions

SECTION 1. Section 52-7-30 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 52-7-30. The commission has direction, management, control, and supervision over all combative sports in this State including, but not limited to, boxing, wrestling, and sparring events, exhibitions, contests, and performances whether in person or via closed circuit television in this State. The commission shall promulgate regulations as necessary for the protection of the health and safety of participants and to carry out the provisions of this article. Schools or organizations that fall under the auspices of the United States Olympic Committee, events sponsored by USA Boxing - South Carolina Association, Inc., and businesses that offer instruction in the combative sports are exempt from the provisions of this article. If upon investigation the commission determines that associations or other entities have health and safety rules sufficient to meet the requirements of this article, the commission may exempt these associations or other entities from the regulations promulgated by the commission pursuant to this article. Pursuant to Section 40-73-15, the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation or his designee, may appoint a chief inspector and referees, inspectors, other officials, and clerical help as the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation determines necessary to administer the provisions of this article."

Definitions

SECTION 2. Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 52-7-35. For the purpose of this chapter:

(1) `Combative sports' as used in this article means contests in which the participants are disposed to fight before an audience on a platform, a pad, or in an area surrounded by ropes or other markings.

(2) `Weapon' means anything that is not a part of the human body, excluding boxing gloves and equipment used in combative sports that are exempt from the provisions of this article by Section 52-7-30, which may be used to strike a person either through direct contact or the expulsion of a projectile."

Certain contests unlawful; penalties

SECTION 3. Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 52-7-145. Contests involving more than one of the combative sports or combative sports in which weapons are used shall be unlawful in this State, and any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 52-7-150."

Time effective

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 6/13/95.