Bill 679

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    679
Ratification Number:            118
Act Number:                     73
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19950329
Primary Sponsor:                Passailaigue
All Sponsors:                   Passailaigue
Drafted Document Number:        RES9607.ELP
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19950531
Date of Last Amendment:         19950530
Governor's Action:              U  Became law without signature of
                                Governor
Date of Governor's Action:      19950613
Subject:                        Combative sports

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19950613  Act No. A73
------  19950613  Unsigned, became law without
                  signature of Governor
------  19950606  Ratified R118
Senate  19950531  Concurred in House amendment,
                  enrolled for ratification
House   19950531  Read third time, returned to Senate
                  with amendment
House   19950530  Amended, read second time
House   19950524  Debate adjourned until
                  Tuesday, 19950530
House   19950518  Committee report: Favorable with         26 HLCI
                  amendment
House   19950425  Introduced, read first time,             26 HLCI
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19950420  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19950419  Amended, read second time
Senate  19950418  Committee report: Favorable with         08 SG
                  amendment
Senate  19950329  Introduced, read first time,             08 SG
                  referred to Committee

(A73, R118, S679)

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.