Prohibited compensation to commission members

No member or employee of the commission and no person who administers or enforces the provisions of this chapter or rules promulgated in accordance with this chapter may belong to, contract with, or receive any compensation from any person or organization who authorizes, arranges, or promotes professional matches, contests, or exhibitions of boxing, martial arts, or wrestling or who otherwise has a financial interest in any activity or licensee regulated by this commission. The term “compensation” does not include funds held in escrow for 175 43-4B-10 payment to another person in connection with a professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing, martial arts, or wrestling. History. Code 1981, § 43-4B-8, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 752, § 2; Ga. L. 2005, p. 984, § 4/SB 224. ARTICLE 2 LICENSING AND PARTICIPATORY REQUIREMENTS 43-4B-10. Promoter’s license and match permit requirements; applications; performance bond; fees. (a) No person shall promote or hold a professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing within this state without first applying for and obtaining a promoter’s license from the commission. Licenses shall be issued annually and shall expire on December 31 of each calendar year. (b) Promoters shall apply to the commission for a license required by subsection (a) of this Code section on a form provided by the commission. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $250.00 in the form of a cashier’s check made out to the commission. The application shall also be accompanied by a performance bond in an amount and under such conditions as the commission may require. (c) No person shall promote or hold a professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing within this state without first applying for and obtaining a match permit from the commission for such professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing in addition to the license required by subsection (a) of this Code section. Each application for a match permit shall be on a form provided by the commission and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee not to exceed $250.00 in the form of a cashier’s check made out to the commission. The commission may charge an additional match fee in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the commission to implement the provisions of this article. (d) The commission may, prior to issuing any match permit, require a performance bond in addition to that required in subsection (b) of this Code section. (e) The commission may refund any portion of the match permit fee in excess of $250.00 to any person who paid such excess fee in the event the professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing for which such fees were paid is not held. 176 43-4B-12 History. Code 1981, § 43-4B-10, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 752, § 2. 43-4B-11. Required licenses for boxers and nonboxing participants; prerequisites to licenses. (a) Prior to participating in a professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing supervised by the commission, referees, judges, timekeepers, matchmakers, boxers, managers, trainers, and each person who assists a boxer immediately before and after a match, contest, or exhibition of boxing and between rounds during a match, contest, or exhibition of boxing shall apply for and be issued licenses. Licenses shall be issued annually and shall expire on December 31 of each calendar year. Each applicant shall make application on a form provided by the commission and pay an annual license fee not to exceed $250.00. Any boxer who has been licensed by the commission during a previous year shall be deemed to be an applicant for a license in any year for which such boxer has entered into a written contract to participate in a professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing in this state upon the date of entering into such a contract. Any party to such a contract may notify the commission that such a contract has been signed. (b) The commission shall issue a license under this Code section only if: (1) The commission has determined to the best of its ability that the applicant has the training or skills necessary to perform in a manner appropriate to the license; (2) The applicant has complied with all applicable requirements of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter; and (3) The commission or its designated representative has determined from information provided by the applicant and from any medical evaluation required by the commission that the health, welfare, and physical safety of the applicant will not be unduly jeopardized by the issuance of the license. History. Code 1981, § 43-4B-11, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 752, § 2; Ga. L. 2003, p. 774, § 26. 43-4B-12. Registry requirements for boxers; identification card; fees. In addition to the license required in Code Section 43-4B-11, each professional boxer who is a resident of this state or another state which has no state boxing commission is required to register with a boxing 177 43-4B-13 registry created or designated by the commission and renew his or her registration as prescribed by rules of the commission. At the time of registration and renewal, the boxer shall provide the boxing registry with a recent photograph of the boxer and the social security number of the boxer or, in the case of a foreign boxer, any similar citizen identification number or boxer number from the country of residence of the boxer, along with any other information the commission requires. The boxing registry shall issue a personal identification number to each boxer and such number shall appear on the identification card issued to the boxer as a result of registration. Each boxer is required to present to the boxing commission an identification card issued by the state in which he or she resides not later than the time of the weigh-in for a professional match, contest, or exhibition. The commission may charge a registration fee in an amount calculated to cover the administrative expense of such registration. History. Code 1981, § 43-4B-12, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 752, § 2.