Senate Bill 1318
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1998 SB 1318
By Senator Grant
13-1123-98 See HB
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to pugilistic exhibitions;
3 amending s. 548.003, F.S.; providing that the
4 location of the State Athletic Commission shall
5 be in Tampa; amending s. 548.007, F.S.;
6 revising applicability of the Joe Lang Kershaw
7 Act; amending s. 548.008, F.S.; clarifying
8 language with respect to prohibited toughman
9 and badman competitions; amending s. 548.026,
10 F.S.; revising language with respect to the
11 duration of licenses issued under the act;
12 amending s. 548.043, F.S.; revising provisions
13 regulating weights, classes, and gloves;
14 providing an effective date.
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16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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18 Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 548.003, Florida
19 Statutes, is amended to read:
20 548.003 State Athletic Commission.--
21 (1) The State Athletic Commission is created under the
22 Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The State
23 Athletic Commission shall consist of five members appointed by
24 the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Upon the
25 expiration of the term of a commissioner, the Governor shall
26 appoint a successor to serve for a 4-year term.
27 (2) The State Athletic Commission, as created by
28 subsection (1), shall administer the provisions of this
29 chapter. The commission may adopt rules to implement this
30 chapter.
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Florida Senate - 1998 SB 1318
13-1123-98 See HB
1 (3) The commission shall maintain an office in Tampa
2 Tallahassee and any necessary branch offices. At the first
3 meeting of the commission after June 1 of each year, the
4 commission shall select a chair from among its membership.
5 Three members shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of
6 at least three members is necessary for official commission
7 action.
8 (4) Each member of the commission shall be compensated
9 at the rate of $25 for each day she or he attends a commission
10 meeting and shall be reimbursed for other expenses as provided
11 in s. 112.061.
12 Section 2. Section 548.007, Florida Statutes, is
13 amended to read:
14 548.007 Applicability of act to amateur matches and
15 certain other matches or events.--With the exception of s.
16 548.008, sections 548.001-548.079 do not apply to:
17 (1) Any match in which the participants are amateurs;
18 (2) Any match conducted or sponsored by a university,
19 college, or secondary school if all the participants are
20 students regularly enrolled in the institution;
21 (3) Any match conducted or sponsored by a nationally
22 chartered veterans' organization registered with the state;
23 (4) Any match conducted or sponsored by any company or
24 detachment of the Florida National Guard; or
25 (5) Any official Olympic event.
26 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 548.008, Florida
27 Statutes, is amended to read:
28 548.008 Toughman and badman competition prohibited.--
29 (1) No professional or amateur toughman or badman
30 match, as described in this section, may be held in this
31 state. Such competition includes any contest or exhibition
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1998 SB 1318
13-1123-98 See HB
1 where participants compete by using a combination of fighting
2 skills. Such skills may include, but are not limited to,
3 boxing, wrestling, kicking, or martial arts skills.
4 Notwithstanding the above, this section shall not preclude
5 kickboxing as regulated by this chapter.
6 (2) Any person participating in or promoting a
7 toughman or badman match is guilty of a misdemeanor of the
8 second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
9 775.083.
10 Section 4. Section 548.026, Florida Statutes, is
11 amended to read:
12 548.026 Duration of license.--Each license shall
13 expire 1 year on December 31 next following the date on which
14 it was issued.
15 Section 5. Section 548.043, Florida Statutes, is
16 amended to read:
17 548.043 Weights and classes, limitations; gloves.--
18 (1) The commission shall establish classes of boxers
19 based upon weights.
20 (2) The commission shall establish by rule the
21 acceptable No boxing match shall be held in which the
22 difference in weight between of the participants in the same
23 weight class; however, the maximum difference in weight shall
24 not exceed 12 exceeds 10 pounds, except matches in the
25 cruiserweight light-heavyweight and heavyweight classes and
26 exhibitions held solely for training purposes.
27 (3) The commission shall establish by rule the
28 appropriate weight of boxing gloves to be used in each boxing
29 match; however, all participants in boxing matches shall wear
30 boxing gloves weighing not less than 6 ounces each.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1998 SB 1318
13-1123-98 See HB
1 Participants in all other types of matches shall wear such
2 protective devices as the commission deems necessary.
3 Section 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
4 law.
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7 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Revises various provisions of ch. 548, F.S., the Joe Lang
9 Kershaw Act, relating to pugilistic exhibitions, to
provide that the location of the State Athletic
10 Commission shall be in Tampa rather than Tallahassee.
Revises applicability of the act. Clarifies language with
11 respect to prohibited toughman and badman competitions
and with respect to the duration of licenses issued under
12 the act.
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Provides that the State Athletic Commission shall
14 establish by rule the acceptable difference in weight
between participants in the same weight class, with the
15 maximum difference not to exceed 12 pounds. Excepts the
cruiserweight class from such rule. Provides that the
16 commission shall establish by rule the appropriate weight
of boxing gloves to be used in boxing matches.
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