Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends the Professional Boxing Act and creates the Illinois Athletic Board for the purposes of regulating professional and amateur martial arts tournaments, with some exceptions.

Highlights:

• Defines "professional contest" as a boxing or full-contact martial arts competition in which all of the participants competing are professional and where the public is able to attend or a fee is charged (Sec. 1).

• Defines "amateur contest" as a full-contact martial arts competition in which all of the participants competing against one another are amateurs and where the public is able to attend or a fee is charged (Sec. 1).

• Defines "department" as the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Sec. 1).

• Defines "professional" as a person licensed by the Department who competes for a money prize or type of compensation in a professional contest held in the state (Sec.1).

• Defines "amateur" as a person registered by the Department who is not competing for, and has never received or competed for any compensation for participating in any contest other than a non-monetary prize that does not exceed $50 in value (Sec. 1).

• Defines "martial arts" as a discipline or combination of disciplines that utilizes sparring techniques without the intent to injure, disable, or incapacitate one's opponents, such as, but not limited to Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, and Tae Kwon Do (Sec. 1).

• Defines "full-contact martial arts" as the use of a singular discipline or a combination of techniques from disciplines of martial arts, including, but not limited to full-force grappling, kicking, and striking with the intent to injure, disable, or incapacitate one's opponent (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits all professional and amateur contests and events, in which physical contact is made, unless authorized by the Department pursuant to the requirements of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Exempts the following martial arts contests and events from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6):
• Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests conducted by accredited secondary schools, colleges, or universities, even if a fee is charged;
• Amateur boxing contests that are sanctioned by USA Boxing or any other sanctioning organization that is approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions;
• Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests conducted by a state, county, or municipal entity;
• Amateur martial arts contest that are not defined as full contact martial arts contests under this bill; and
• Full-contact martial arts contests that are recognized by the International Olympic Committee or are contested in the Olympic Games and are not conducted in an enclosed fighting are or ring.

• Authorizes the Department to determine whether a professional or amateur contest is exempt from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires promoters to obtain a permit prior to holding an amateur or professional contest (Sec. 7).

• Requires a promoter that desires to obtain a permit to conduct a professional or amateur contest to apply with the Department at least 20 days prior to the event and include information with the submitted application including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 8):
• The required fee, as mandated by the Department;
• The legal name and address of the promoter;
• The name of the matchmaker;
• The exact time and location of the contest;
• The names of the professionals or amateurs competing, subject to the Department's approval; and
• Any other information the Department may require.

• Requires promoters to provide proof of "adequate" security measures to ensure safety of the contestants and the general public, and proof of adequate medical supervision to ensure the safety of the contestants participating in contest (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that all amateur martial artists must register with the Department beginning 6 months after the adoption of this bill (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes the Department to grant a license to a professional contestant if the following qualifications are met (Sec. 11):
• The person is 18 years or older;
• The person is of "good moral character;
• The person has filed an application with their correct legal name;
• The person has filed a certificate from a physician that he or she is physically fit and qualified to participate; and
• The person has paid the required fee.

• Authorizes the Department to grant a license to an applicant registering as an amateur competing in an amateur full-contact martial arts contest if the applicant meets the following qualification (Sec. 11):
• The person is 18 years or older;
• The person is of "good moral character;
• The person has filed an application stating their legal name, date and place of birth, and place of current residence;
• The person has submitted a sworn statement that he or she is not currently in violation of any federal, state, or local laws, or rules governing full-contact martial arts; and
• The person has submitted a certificate from a physician attesting that the applicant is physically fit and qualified to participate in full-contact martial arts contests.

• Increases the civil penalty to $10,000 from $5,000 for any individual who violates the licensing provisions of this bill (Sec. 10).

• Requires professional and amateur contests to be held in areas where adequate neurosurgical facilities are immediately available for skilled emergency treatment of an injured professional or amateur (Sec. 12).

• Authorizes the Department to establish the compensation rate for professional contests and specifies that it shall be the promoters that pay the compensation to the contestants (Sec. 8).

• Requires promoters to pay to the Department 5 percent of gross receipts from the sale of admissions tickets, not to exceed $52,500, and specifies that these funds shall be placed in the Athletics Supervision and Regulation Fund to ensure the enforcement of this bill (Sec. 13).

• Requires promoters to pay the Department 3 percent of the first $500,000 and 4 percent of additional total gross receipts from the sale, lease, or other "exploitation" of broadcasting, including, but not limited to, Internet, cable, television, and motion picture rights for that professional or amateur contest in addition to payment of any other taxes or money due (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Professional Boxing Act and establishes the Illinois Athletic Board for the purposes of regulating professional and amateur martial arts tournaments, with some exceptions.

Highlights:

• Defines "professional contest" as a boxing or full-contact martial arts competition in which all of the participants competing are professional and where the public is able to attend or a fee is charged (Sec. 1).

• Defines "amateur contest" as a full-contact martial arts competition in which all of the participants competing against one another are amateurs and where the public is able to attend or a fee is charged (Sec. 1).

• Defines "department" as the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Sec. 1).

• Defines "professional" as a person licensed by the Department who competes for a money prize or type of compensation in a professional contest held in the state (Sec.1).

• Defines "amateur" as a person registered by the Department who is not competing for, and has never received or competed for any compensation for participating in any contest other than a non-monetary prize that does not exceed $50 in value (Sec. 1).

• Defines "martial arts" as a discipline or combination of disciplines that utilizes sparring techniques without the intent to injure, disable, or incapacitate one's opponents, such as, but not limited to Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, and Tae Kwon Do (Sec. 1).

• Defines "full-contact martial arts" as the use of a singular discipline or a combination of techniques from disciplines of martial arts, including, but not limited to full-force grappling, kicking, and striking with the intent to injure, disable, or incapacitate one's opponent (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits all professional and amateur contests and events, in which physical contact is made, unless authorized by the Department pursuant to the requirements of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Exempts the following martial arts contests and events from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6):
• Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests conducted by accredited secondary schools, colleges, or universities, even if a fee is charged;
• Amateur boxing contests that are sanctioned by USA Boxing or any other sanctioning organization that is approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions;
• Amateur boxing or full-contact martial arts contests conducted by a state, county, or municipal entity;
• Amateur martial arts contest that are not defined as full contact martial arts contests under this bill; and
• Full-contact martial arts contests that are recognized by the International Olympic Committee or are contested in the Olympic Games and are not conducted in an enclosed fighting are or ring.

• Authorizes the Department to determine whether a professional or amateur contest is exempt from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Requires promoters to obtain a permit prior to holding an amateur or professional contest (Sec. 7).

• Requires a promoter that desires to obtain a permit to conduct a professional or amateur contest to apply with the Department at least 20 days prior to the event and include information with the submitted application including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 8):
• The required fee, as mandated by the Department;
• The legal name and address of the promoter;
• The name of the matchmaker;
• The exact time and location of the contest;
• The names of the professionals or amateurs competing, subject to the Department's approval; and
• Any other information the Department may require.

• Requires promoters to provide proof of "adequate" security measures to ensure safety of the contestants and the general public, and proof of adequate medical supervision to ensure the safety of the contestants participating in contest (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that all amateur martial artists must register with the Department beginning 6 months after the adoption of this bill (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes the Department to grant a license to a professional contestant if the following qualifications are met (Sec. 11):
• The person is 18 years or older;
• The person is of "good moral character;
• The person has filed an application with their correct legal name;
• The person has filed a certificate from a physician that he or she is physically fit and qualified to participate; and
• The person has paid the required fee.

• Authorizes the Department to grant a license to an applicant registering as an amateur competing in an amateur full-contact martial arts contest if the applicant meets the following qualification (Sec. 11):
• The person is 18 years or older;
• The person is of "good moral character;
• The person has filed an application stating their legal name, date and place of birth, and place of current residence;
• The person has submitted a sworn statement that he or she is not currently in violation of any federal, state, or local laws, or rules governing full-contact martial arts; and
• The person has submitted a certificate from a physician attesting that the applicant is physically fit and qualified to participate in full-contact martial arts contests.

• Increases the civil penalty to $10,000 from $5,000 for any individual who violates the licensing provisions of this bill (Sec. 10).

• Requires professional and amateur contests to be held in areas where adequate neurosurgical facilities are immediately available for skilled emergency treatment of an injured professional or amateur (Sec. 12).

• Authorizes the Department to establish the compensation rate for professional contests and specifies that it shall be the promoters that pay the compensation to the contestants (Sec. 8).

• Requires promoters to pay to the Department 5 percent of gross receipts from the sale of admissions tickets, not to exceed $52,500, and specifies that these funds shall be placed in the Athletics Supervision and Regulation Fund to ensure the enforcement of this bill (Sec. 13).

• Requires promoters to pay the Department 3 percent of the first $500,000 and 4 percent of additional total gross receipts from the sale, lease, or other "exploitation" of broadcasting, including, but not limited to, Internet, cable, television, and motion picture rights for that professional or amateur contest in addition to payment of any other taxes or money due (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text