PRINTER'S NO. 701
No. 632 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY MELLOW, SINGEL, O'CONNELL, FUMO AND MUSTO, APRIL 13, 1983
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 13, 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.
17 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
18 hereby enacts as follows:
19 Section 1. Section 202 of the act of August 31, 1955
20 (P.L.531, No.131), known as the Pennsylvania Athletic Code,
21 amended June 18, 1976 (P.L.393, No.85), is amended to read:
22 Section 202. Boxing and Wrestling Regulated.--Amateur or
23 professional boxing or wrestling contests or exhibitions
24 including kick boxing shall be held within the Commonwealth of
1 Pennsylvania only in accordance with the provisions of this act 2 and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder. Such 3 contests or exhibitions may be held on Sundays. 4 Section 2. Section 204 of the act, amended May 24, 1956 5 (1955 P.L.1693, No.574), is amended to read: 6 Section 204. Physician to be in Attendance.--A physician 7 shall be assigned to every boxing or wrestling contest or 8 exhibition by the Commission. He shall observe and continue to 9 observe the physical condition of the participants and [advise 10 the member of the Commission or deputy in charge and the referee 11 in regard thereto.] be authorized to stop any contest or 12 exhibition at any time to examine a contestant and to terminate 13 a bout when in his judgment severe injury could result to a 14 contestant if the contest or exhibition were to continue. The 15 Commission shall establish by rule or regulation a schedule of 16 fees to be paid such physicians for their services. The 17 physician's fee shall be paid by the promoter of the contest or 18 exhibition attended by the physician. 19 Section 3. The act is amended by adding sections to read: 20 Section 204.1. Medical Training Seminars.--The Commission 21 shall conduct frequent mandatory medical training seminars, at 22 least three (3) per year for all ring personnel, Commission 23 personnel and for other persons employed by the Commission and 24 designated to attend. 25 Section 204.2. Register.--The Commission shall establish and 26 maintain a register for all professional boxers licensed in 27 Pennsylvania. The register shall include a photograph of the 28 boxer. In the register, the Commission shall record the results 29 of each boxing contest or exhibition the boxer is involved in, 30 including technical knockouts, knockouts and other boxing 19830S0632B0701 - 2 -
1 related injuries, as well as the dates of each contest or 2 exhibition and the record of wins and losses. 3 Section 204.3. Medical Equipment.--No professional or 4 amateur boxing event shall be started unless there is on the 5 premises: 6 (1) an ambulance, together with emergency equipment; and 7 (2) a portable resuscitator with oxygen and appropriate 8 endotracheal tubes, and a qualified operator. 9 Section 204.4. Suspension.--For sound medical reasons and to 10 protect the individual boxers, the Commission shall establish 11 mandatory license suspensions of those persons who sustain 12 certain injuries. The Commission may suspend a boxer's license 13 for up to sixty (60) days for a laceration of the face, up to 14 thirty (30) days for a technical knockout with minor injuries 15 and up to forty-five (45) days for head injuries. Boxers 16 receiving a knockout may receive up to a ninety (90) day 17 suspension and shall receive an EEG within twenty-four (24) 18 hours of the knockout. 19 Section 4. Sections 208, 210 and 250 of the act, amended or 20 added May 24, 1956 (1955 P.L.1693, No.574) are amended to read: 21 Section 208. Gloves.--When the boxers are lightweights, as 22 defined in the regulations, or in a lighter class, they shall 23 wear boxing gloves weighing not less than five (5) ounces each. 24 When the boxers are [in a heavier class than lightweights,] over 25 one hundred sixty-five (165) pounds, they shall wear boxing 26 gloves weighing not less than [six (6)] ten (10) ounces each. 27 Section 210. Attendance of Referee and Judges; Scoring.--At 28 each professional boxing contest or exhibition, except an 29 exhibition held solely for training purposes, there shall be in 30 attendance, at the expense of the promoter, a duly licensed 19830S0632B0701 - 3 -
1 referee designated by the Commission who shall direct and 2 control the contest or exhibition. 3 There shall also be in attendance at every boxing contest, at 4 the expense of the promoter, [two (2)] three (3) licensed 5 judges, each of whom shall[, together with the referee,] render 6 his individual decision, in writing, on a scorecard supplied by 7 the Commission at the end of every boxing contest which 8 continues for the scheduled number of rounds. Each judge [and 9 the referee] shall have one (1) vote and a majority of the votes 10 cast shall determine the winner. 11 The Commission shall by rule or regulation prescribe the 12 methods of scoring. 13 Section 250. Mandatory Eight Count.--Whenever a boxer is 14 knocked down, he shall be required to take a count of eight, 15 even if he has regained his feet prior thereto, and the referee 16 shall not permit the contest or exhibition to be resumed until 17 the count of eight has actually been reached, except in 18 professional championship boxing contests and exhibitions. A 19 referee may give a standing eight count in those instances where 20 he deems necessary. 21 Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days. C18L4JLW/19830S0632B0701 - 4 -