File No. 284

House of Representatives, March 29, 2017

The Committee on Public Safety and Security reported through REP. VERRENGIA of the 20th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING BOXING EVENTS AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS MATCHES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 29-143aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) Any person, firm or corporation that employs, or contracts with, a person to be a boxer in a boxing match or competitor in a mixed martial arts match conducted pursuant to this chapter shall [be liable for any health care costs incurred by such competitor for the diagnosis, care and treatment of any injury, illness, disease or condition resulting from or caused by such competitor's participation in such match for the duration of such injury, illness, disease or condition] provide health insurance coverage and a death benefit on behalf of such boxer or competitor with respect to each match produced by such person, firm or corporation.

(b) Such health insurance coverage shall provide at least twenty thousand dollars of benefits for medical, dental, surgical and hospital expenses resulting from or caused by such boxer's or competitor's participation in such match. Such death benefit shall provide at least fifty thousand dollars to the estate of the boxer or competitor for the death of the boxer or competitor resulting from or caused by such boxer's or competitor's participation in such match.

Sec. 2. Section 29-143l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, grant or deny an application for a license to conduct, hold or give any boxing or mixed martial arts match to any person, persons, club, corporation or association. [Before any such license is issued, the applicant shall execute and file with the commissioner a bond in such amount and form and with such surety as is determined by the commissioner, which bond shall be conditioned for the payment of the tax imposed by section 29-143m. Upon the filing and approval of such bond, the commissioner shall issue to such applicant a certificate of such filing and approval. No license shall be issued under this section until such bond is filed.]

(b) The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, revoke any license to conduct, hold or give any boxing or mixed martial arts match issued under this section for cause as provided in this chapter or in any regulation adopted under this chapter in accordance with chapter 54.

Sec. 3. Sections 29-143m and 29-143n of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective October 1, 2017)

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst's professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The bill eliminates the gross receipts tax on boxing and makes various changes to promoters' liability to pay health costs in mixed martial arts matches. This results in a General Fund revenue loss of less than $18,750 in FY 18 and less than $25,000 annually thereafter.

The Out Years

The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 6266

AN ACT CONCERNING BOXING EVENTS AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS MATCHES.

SUMMARY

This bill eliminates mixed martial arts (MMA) promoters' liability to pay the health care costs an MMA competitor incurs from an injury, illness, disease, or condition resulting from an MMA match for the entire duration of the injury, illness, disease, or condition. It instead requires MMA promoters to provide liability insurance and death benefits on the same terms as boxing promoters (see below). The bill applies to any person, firm, or corporation that employs or contracts with someone to compete in an MMA match.

The bill eliminates (1) the 5% gross receipt tax that boxing and MMA promoters must pay under current law, (2) the requirement for promoters to file a surety bond with the emergency services and public protection commissioner as a condition of being licensed, and (3) related reporting provisions on matches and event receipts.

The bill also makes conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2017

MMA

By law, MMA is unarmed combat involving the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of martial arts, including grappling, kicking, jujitsu, and striking.

INSURANCE AND DEATH BENEFITS

The bill requires MMA promoters to provide (1) insurance coverage of at least $20,000 for an injured competitor's medical, dental, surgical, and hospital care and (2) death benefits of at least $50,000 to the estate of an MMA participant who dies as a result of participating in an MMA match. Boxing promoters must provide these same amounts under existing state regulations for boxers (Conn. Agencies Reg. § 29-143j-15a). The bill codifies these requirements in statute for boxing and sparring promoters.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Safety and Security Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute