Title XXXIII, Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations

(1) The department shall exercise oversight of the activities of the commission to the extent necessary to facilitate the requirements of this section.(2) To facilitate efficient and cost-effective regulation, the commission and the department, where appropriate, shall develop an…

(1) The commission has exclusive jurisdiction over every boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts match held within the state which involves a professional.(2) As to professional mixed martial arts and kickboxing, until a central repository of match records for each exists and …

(1) No match involving amateurs which utilizes, but is not necessarily limited to, strikes or blows to the head may be held in this state unless it is sanctioned and supervised by an amateur sanctioning organization approved by the commission. An approved amateur sanctioning orga…

This chapter does not apply to any of the following:(1) A match that does not allow full contact if the match is limited to amateur participants.(2) A match conducted or sponsored by a company or detachment of the Florida National Guard or the United States Armed Forces, if the m…

(1) No match involving amateurs which utilizes, but is not necessarily limited to, strikes or blows to the head may be held in this state unless it is sanctioned and supervised by an amateur sanctioning organization approved by the commission as required by this chapter.(2) No pr…

The commission has exclusive jurisdiction to issue, withhold, suspend, or revoke any license or permit provided for in this chapter.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

(1) A promoter may not, directly or indirectly, promote any match involving a professional, unless the promoter has been issued a license therefor by the commission.(2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 7…

(1)(a) Before a license is issued or renewed to a promoter and before a permit is issued to a promoter, she or he must file a surety bond with the commission in a reasonable amount determined by the commission of at least $15,000.(b) All bonds must be upon forms approved and supp…

(1) A participant, manager, trainer, second, referee, judge, physician, matchmaker, or promoter must be licensed before directly or indirectly acting in such capacity in connection with any match involving a participant. A physician approved by the commission must be licensed pur…

(1) An application for a license or a permit must:(a) Be in writing on a form supplied by the commission which shall contain the applicant’s social security number.(b) Be verified by the applicant.(c) Be complete and have attached to the application any photographs and other exhi…

The commission may require any applicant or any officer, director, employee, or stockholder of a corporate applicant, before taking action on her or his application, to appear before the commission for an oral examination, under oath, as to her or his qualifications.History.—ss. …

If the commission requires a background criminal history investigation of any applicant, it shall require the applicant to submit to the department fingerprints for this purpose. The fingerprints shall be forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems within th…

The commission shall set license fees as follows:(1) Promoter, matchmaker—not to exceed $500.(2) Any other license—not to exceed $100.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 120, ch. 99-251.

Each license shall expire on December 31 next following the date on which it was issued.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

The commission shall not issue a license to:(1) Any person or business entity that has been convicted of any act, or that has a trustee, partner, officer, director, or owner that has been convicted of any act, that would constitute a violation of this chapter or would constitute …

In addition to a promoter’s license, a promoter must procure a permit for each program of matches before presenting that program. Each application for a permit shall specify the location and time of the program.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

A permit may not be issued for a match to be held within any political subdivision of this state that has adopted a local ordinance or resolution prohibiting such matches.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

The commission shall set permit fees for professional matches at $1,800 per event. For purposes of this section, an “event” is one or more matches comprising a show.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 10, ch. 2002-172; s. 1, ch. 2008-136.

It is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for any promoter to sell or cause to be sold more tickets of admission for any match than can be accommodated by the seating capacity of the premises where the match is to be held.Histor…

(1) A person may not be licensed as a participant, and the license of a participant shall be suspended or revoked, if such person:(a) Is under the age of 18;(b) Has participated in a match in this state which was not sanctioned by the commission or by a Native American commission…

A person may not participate under a fictitious or assumed name in any match unless she or he has registered the name with the commission.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 765, ch. 97-103; s. 122, ch. 99-251.

(1) The commission shall establish classes of participants based upon weights.(2) The commission shall establish by rule the acceptable difference in weight between participants; however, the maximum difference in weight in boxing matches shall not exceed 12 pounds, except matche…

(1) The commission, or the commission representative, shall assign to each match at least one physician who shall observe the physical condition of the participants and advise the commissioner or commission representative in charge and the referee of the participants’ conditions …

A licensee shall disclose all information in her or his possession concerning any mental or physical disability, injury, illness, or incapacity of a participant in a match, immediately after learning thereof, to the commission, the deputy in charge, the attending physician, or th…

(1) The commission shall, by rule, require participants to be covered by not less than $20,000 of insurance for medical, surgical, and hospital care required as a result of injuries sustained while engaged in matches. The insured shall be the beneficiary of such policies. Any ded…

(1) The commission shall adopt rules governing the form and content of contracts executed in this state between managers and participants. All such contracts shall be in writing and shall contain all provisions specifically worded as required by rules of the commission. Contracts…

A promoter may not pay, lend, or give a participant an advance against her or his purse before a contest, except with the prior written permission of the commission, the executive director, or the executive director’s designee; and, if permitted, such advance may be made only for…

(1) Unless otherwise directed by a representative of the commission, all purses shall be distributed by the promoter no later than 24 hours after the match. A written statement showing the distribution of the purse, including each item of receipt and each expenditure or deduction…

(1) A member of the commission, the commission representative, or the referee may order a promoter to surrender to the commission any purse or other funds payable to a participant, or to withhold the share of any manager, if it appears that:(a) The participant is not competing ho…

(1) A member of the commission; an employee of the commission; a referee or judge licensed by the commission; or an attending physician may not have any direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any participant.(2)(a) A manager, trainer, or second of any participant s…

(1) At each boxing match involving a participant, except at an exhibition held solely for training purposes, at the expense of the promoter, a referee designated by the commission shall direct and control the match.(2) At each contest, at the expense of the promoters, three judge…

(1) No person shall knowingly conduct, participate in, or be connected with a match which is represented to be a contest if one or both of the participants does not use her or his best efforts and skill or does not strive earnestly to win; if the result thereof has been prearrang…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (5), a promoter holding a match shall, within 72 hours after the match, file with the commission a written report that includes the number of tickets sold, the amount of gross receipts, and any other facts the commission may require. For the p…

(1) As used in this section, the term “proprietary confidential business information” means information that:(a) Is owned or controlled by the promoter;(b) The promoter intends to be and treats as private;(c) If disclosed, would cause harm to the promoter or its business operatio…

It is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for any promoter or person associated with or employed by any promoter to destroy any ticket to a match or any ticket stub, whether sold or unsold, within 6 months after the date of the …

(1) Upon the postponement, substitution of either participant, or cancellation of the main event or the entire program of matches, the promoter shall refund the full purchase price of a ticket to each person presenting a ticket for a refund within 30 days after the scheduled date…

A person under 16 years of age may not attend a match unless such person is accompanied by an adult or unless the exhibition is of amateur status.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

(1) The commission, the executive director, or the executive director’s designee may issue an emergency suspension order pursuant to s. 120.60(6) suspending the license of a person or entity licensed under this chapter who poses an immediate, serious danger to the health, safety,…

The commission may suspend or revoke a license or permit if the commission finds that the licensee or permittee:(1) Is guilty of violating this chapter or the rules of the commission.(2) Has committed fraud or deceit in securing any license or permit.(3) Has been convicted of, ha…

All hearings held under this chapter shall be held in accordance with chapter 120.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 15, ch. 2014-128.

For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding conducted pursuant to this chapter, the department shall have the power to administer oaths, take depositions, make inspections when authorized by statute, issue subpoenas which shall be supported by affidavit, serve subpoenas an…

(1) The commission may impose a fine of not more than $5,000 for any violation of this chapter in lieu of or in addition to any other punishment provided for such violation.(2) The commission may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to permit the issuance of citation…

When the department has probable cause to believe that any person not licensed by the commission has violated any provision of this chapter, or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, the department may issue and deliver to such person a notice to cease and desist from such violation.…

All fees, fines, forfeitures, and other moneys collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid by the commission to the Chief Financial Officer who, after the expenses of the commission are paid, shall deposit them in the Professional Regulation Trust Fund to be used…

Unless otherwise specified, any person convicted of any offense set forth in this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.History.—ss. 2, 4, ch. 84-246; s. 143, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429.