New York Boxing, Sparring and Wrestling Ch. 912/20 Law

* Regulation of Boxing, Sparring and Wrestling--Chapter 912 of 1920
 
    *§  1.  State  athletic  commission.  The  state  boxing commission is
  continued as a division in the department of state under the name of the
  state athletic commission. The commission shall consist of three members
  who shall be appointed by the  governor  by  and  with  the  advice  and
  consent  of  the senate. The governor shall designate one of the members
  as chairman of the commission. The members of the  commission  shall  be
  appointed for terms of three years. Any vacancy in the membership of the
  commission  caused  otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled
  only for the balance of the term of the member  in  whose  position  the
  vacancy occurs.
    The  commissioners  shall be paid their actual and necessary traveling
  and other expenses incurred by them in the performance of their official
  duties. The commission shall maintain in the city of  New  York  general
  offices  for  the  transaction  of  its  business.  The  members  of the
  commission shall adopt a seal for the commission, and  make  such  rules
  for  the  administration  of their office, not inconsistent herewith, as
  they may deem expedient; and they may amend or abrogate such rules.  Two
  of  the  members  of  the  commission  shall  constitute  a quorum to do
  business; and the concurrence of at least  two  commissioners  shall  be
  necessary to render a determination by the commission.
    The commission shall annually make to the legislature a full report of
  its  proceedings for the year ending with the first day of the preceding
  December and may submit with such report such recommendations pertaining
  to its affairs as it shall deem desirable.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 2. Officers and employees. The  commission  may  appoint,  and  at
  pleasure  remove,  deputies  who shall be paid a salary within budgetary
  appropriations and all necessary expenses for traveling and  maintenance
  incurred  by them in the performance of their official duties outside of
  the city in which  they  are  regularly  employed.  The  commission  may
  appoint,  and  at  pleasure remove, a secretary to the commission, whose
  duty it shall be to keep a full and true record of all its  proceedings,
  preserve  at  its  general  office  all its books, documents and papers,
  prepare for service such notices and other papers as may be required  of
  him  by  the  commission and perform such other duties as the commission
  may prescribe. The secretary of the commission shall receive  an  annual
  salary  within  budgetary appropriations. The commission may employ such
  other  officers,  employees  and  inspectors  as  may  be  necessary  to
  administer  the provisions of this act and fix their salaries within the
  amount appropriated therefor by the legislature. The necessary traveling
  and other necessary expenses of the members of the commission,  and  the
  salary  of  its deputies and secretary, shall be paid monthly out of the
  state treasury on the warrant of the comptroller and the certificate  of
  the  chairman of the commission out of the money appropriated to be used
  therefor.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 3. Subpoenas by  commission;  oaths.  The  commission  shall  have
  authority  to issue, under the hand of its chairman, and the seal of the
  commission,  subpoenas  for  the  attendance  of  witnesses  before  the
  commission.  A  subpoena issued under this section shall be regulated by
  the civil practice law and rules.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 4. Medical advisory board. 1. A medical advisory board  is  hereby
  created  in the division of the state athletic commission, to consist of
  nine members, to be appointed by the  governor.  Of  the  members  first
  appointed  by  the  governor,  three shall be appointed for terms of one

  year, three for terms of two years, and three members shall be appointed
  for terms of three years, from and after the date of their  appointment.
  The  governor  shall  designate  one  of such members as chairman of the
  advisory  board.  The  term  of a member thereafter appointed, except to
  fill a vacancy, shall be three years from the expiration of the term  of
  his  predecessor. Upon the appointment of a successor to the chairman of
  the advisory board, the governor shall designate such successor or other
  member of the advisory board as chairman. A vacancy occurring  otherwise
  than  by  expiration  of  term,  shall  be  filled by appointment by the
  governor for the remainder only of the term. Each member of the advisory
  board shall be duly licensed to practice medicine in the  state  of  New
  York,  and  at  the time of his appointment have had at least five years
  experience in the  practice  of  his  profession.  The  members  of  the
  advisory  board  shall  receive such compensation as may be fixed by the
  commission within the amount provided by  appropriation,  and  shall  be
  allowed  and  paid  necessary  traveling  and other expenses incurred by
  them, respectively, in the performance of their duties hereunder.
    2. The advisory board shall have power and it shall be the duty of the
  board to prepare and submit to the commission for  approval  regulations
  and  standards  for  the  physical  examination  of  professional boxers
  including, without limitation, pre-fight and/or post-fight  examinations
  and  periodic  comprehensive  examinations.  The board shall continue to
  serve in an advisory capacity to the commission and from  time  to  time
  prepare  and  submit  to  the  commission  for approval, such additional
  regulations and standards of  examination  as  in  their  judgment  will
  safeguard  the  physical  welfare of professional boxers licensed by the
  commission. The advisory board shall recommend to  the  commission  from
  time  to  time  such qualified physicians, for the purpose of conducting
  physical examinations of professional boxers and other services  as  the
  rules  of  the  commission  shall  provide;  and  shall recommend to the
  commission a schedule  of  fees  to  be  paid  to  physicians  for  such
  examinations and other services as required by this act.
    3.  The  advisory  board  shall  develop appropriate medical education
  programs for all commission personnel involved in the conduct of  boxing
  and sparring matches or exhibitions so that such personnel can recognize
  and act upon evidence of potential or actual adverse medical indications
  in a participant prior to or during the course of a match.
    4.  The advisory board shall review the credentials and performance of
  each  commission  physician  on  an  annual  basis  as  a  condition  of
  reappointment  of  each  such physician, including each such physician's
  comprehension of  the  medical  literature  on  boxing  referred  to  in
  subdivision five of this section.
    5.  The advisory board shall recommend to the commission a compilation
  of medical publications on the medical aspects of boxing which shall  be
  maintained  by  the  commission  and be made available for review to all
  commission personnel involved in the conduct of any boxing  or  sparring
  match or exhibition.
    6. The advisory board shall also advise the commission on any study of
  equipment, procedures or personnel which will, in their opinion, promote
  the safety of boxing participants.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  5.  Boxing  and professional wrestling exhibitions authorized. No
  boxing, sparring or professional wrestling matches or exhibitions  shall
  be  conducted,  held or given within the state except in accordance with
  the provisions of this act. The commission shall direct a deputy  to  be
  present  at  each  place where boxing or sparring matches or exhibitions
  are to be held pursuant to the provisions of this act. Such deputy shall
  ascertain the exact conditions surrounding such match or exhibition  and

  make  a  written report of the same in the manner and form prescribed by
  the commission. Such boxing or sparring matches or  exhibitions  may  be
  held  in  any  building  for  which the commission in its discretion may
  issue a license. Where such match or exhibition is authorized to be held
  in  a  state  or city owned armory, the provision of the military law in
  respect thereto must be complied with, but no such match  or  exhibition
  shall be held in a building wholly used for religious services.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  5-a.  Combative  sports.  1.  A  "combative sport" shall mean any
  professional match or exhibition other than boxing, sparring,  wrestling
  or martial arts wherein the contestants deliver, or are not forbidden by
  the  applicable rules thereof from delivering kicks, punches or blows of
  any kind to the body of an opponent or opponents. For  the  purposes  of
  this  section,  the  term  "martial arts" shall include any professional
  match or exhibition sanctioned by any of  the  following  organizations:
  U.S.  Judo  Association, U.S. Judo, Inc., U.S. Judo Federation, U.S. Tae
  Kwon Do Union, North American Sport Karate  Association,  U.S.A.  Karate
  Foundation,  U.S.  Karate,  Inc., World Karate Association, Professional
  Karate   Association,   Karate   International,   International    Kenpo
  Association,   or  World  Wide  Kenpo  Association.  The  commission  is
  authorized to promulgate regulations which would establish a process  to
  allow  for  the  inclusion or removal of martial arts organizations from
  the above list. Such  process  shall  include  but  not  be  limited  to
  consideration of the following factors:
    (a)  is  the  organization's primary purpose to provide instruction in
  self defense techniques;
    (b) does the organization require the use  of  hand,  feet  and  groin
  protection during any competition or bout; and
    (c)  does  the  organization  have  an  established  set of rules that
  require the immediate termination of any competition or  bout  when  any
  participant  has received severe punishment or is in danger of suffering
  serious physical injury.
    2. No combative sport shall be conducted, held  or  given  within  the
  state of New York, and no licenses may be approved by the commission for
  such matches or exhibitions.
    3.  (a)  A  person  who knowingly advances or profits from a combative
  sport activity shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor,  and  shall  be
  guilty  of  a  class  E  felony  if  he or she has been convicted in the
  previous five years of violating this subdivision.
    (b) A person advances a combative sport activity  when,  acting  other
  than  as a spectator, he or she engages in conduct which materially aids
  any combative sport. Such conduct includes but is not limited to conduct
  directed  toward  the  creation,  establishment  or  performance  of   a
  combative  sport,  toward  the  acquisition  or maintenance of premises,
  paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefor, toward the  solicitation
  or  inducement  of  persons to attend or participate therein, toward the
  actual conduct of the performance thereof, toward the arrangement of any
  of its financial or promotional phases, or toward any other phase  of  a
  combative  sport.  One  advances a combative sport activity when, having
  substantial proprietary or other  authoritative  control  over  premises
  being  used  with his or her knowledge for purposes of a combative sport
  activity, he or she permits such to occur or continue or makes no effort
  to prevent its occurrence or continuation.
    (c) A person profits from a combative sport activity when  he  or  she
  accepts  or  receives money or other property with intent to participate
  in the proceeds of  a  combative  sport  activity,  or  pursuant  to  an
  agreement   or   understanding   with  any  person  whereby  he  or  she

  participates or is to participate in the proceeds of a  combative  sport
  activity.
    (d)  Any  person  who  knowingly  advances or profits from a combative
  sport activity shall also be subject to a civil penalty  not  to  exceed
  for the first violation ten thousand dollars or twice the amount of gain
  derived  therefrom  whichever  is greater, or for a subsequent violation
  twenty thousand dollars or twice the amount of  gain  derived  therefrom
  whichever  is  greater.  The  attorney  general  is  hereby empowered to
  commence judicial proceedings to recover such penalties  and  to  obtain
  injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this section.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  6.  Jurisdiction  of commission. 1. The commission shall have and
  hereby is vested  with  the  sole  direction,  management,  control  and
  jurisdiction over all such boxing and sparring matches or exhibitions to
  be  conducted,  held  or given within the state of New York and over all
  licenses to any and all  persons  who  participate  in  such  boxing  or
  sparring  matches  or  exhibitions  and  over  any  and all gyms, clubs,
  training camps and other organizations that maintain training facilities
  providing contact sparring for persons who prepare for participation  in
  such  boxing  or sparring matches or exhibitions, and over the promotion
  of professional wrestling exhibitions to  the  extent  provided  for  in
  sections  5,  9,  19,  20,  28-a,  28-b  and  33  of this act, except as
  otherwise provided in this act.
    2. The commission is authorized and directed to require that all sites
  wherein boxing, sparring  and  wrestling  matches  and  exhibitions  are
  conducted  shall  comply  with state and applicable local sanitary codes
  appropriate to school athletic facilities.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  7.  Corporations  and  persons  required  to  procure   licenses;
  professional  boxer  defined. Except as otherwise provided in sections 9
  and 9-a of this chapter, with respect to all boxing or sparring  matches
  or  exhibitions  in  this  state,  all  corporations, persons, referees,
  judges, match-makers, timekeepers, corporation  treasurers,  box  office
  employees,  ticket  takers,  doormen, ushers, professional boxers, their
  managers, trainers, seconds and announcers  shall  be  licensed  by  the
  commission,  and  no  such  corporation  or person shall be permitted to
  participate, either directly or indirectly, in any  boxing  or  sparring
  match  or  exhibition,  or  the holding thereof, or the operation of any
  training  facility  providing   contact   sparring   maintained   either
  exclusively  or  in part for the use of professional boxers, unless such
  corporation or persons shall have first  procured  a  license  from  the
  commission.  The  commission  shall  establish  by  rule  and regulation
  licensing and training standards for such  referees,  judges,  managers,
  trainers  and  seconds. For the purposes of this chapter, a professional
  boxer is deemed to be one who competes for a money prize or  teaches  or
  pursues  or  assists in the practice of boxing as a means of obtaining a
  livelihood or pecuniary gain, and any contest conforming to  the  rules,
  regulations  and  requirements  of  this chapter shall be deemed to be a
  boxing match and not a prize fight.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 7-a. Regulation of judges. 1. Judges for  any  contest  under  the
  jurisdiction  of the commission shall be selected by the commission from
  a list of qualified licensed judges maintained by the commission.
    2. Any boxer or manager may protest the assignment of  a  judge  to  a
  contest  and  the  protesting  boxer  or  manager  may  be  heard by the
  commission or its designee if such protest is timely. If the protest  is
  untimely it shall be summarily rejected.

    3.  Each  person  seeking  to be licensed as a judge by the commission
  shall be required to submit to or provide proof of  an  eye  examination
  and  annually  thereafter  on  the  anniversary  of  the issuance of the
  license.  Each person seeking to be a boxing judge in the state must  be
  certified  as  having  completed  a  training program as approved by the
  commission and shall have passed a written examination approved  by  the
  commission covering aspects of boxing including, but not limited to, the
  rules of the sport, the law of the state relating to the commission, and
  basic  first  aid.  The  commission shall establish continuing education
  programs to keep licensees current on areas of required knowledge.
    4. Each person seeking a license to be a boxing  judge  in  the  state
  shall be required to fill out a financial questionnaire certifying under
  penalty of perjury full disclosure of the judge's financial situation on
  a  questionnaire to be promulgated by the commission. Such questionnaire
  shall be in a form and manner  approved  by  the  commission  and  shall
  provide  information  as  to  areas  of  actual or potential conflict of
  interests as well as appearances of such conflicts, including  financial
  responsibility. Within forty-eight hours of any match, each boxing judge
  shall  file with the commission a financial disclosure statement in such
  form and manner as shall be acceptable to the commission.
    5. Only a person licensed by the commission may judge a boxing contest
  within the state.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 8. License to corporations. 1.  a.  The  commission  may,  in  its
  discretion,  issue a license to conduct, hold or give boxing or sparring
  matches or exhibitions, subject to the provisions hereof, to any  person
  or  corporation  duly  incorporated  under  the laws of the state of New
  York.
    b. A prospective licensee must submit to the commission proof that  it
  can furnish suitable premises in which such match or exhibition is to be
  held.
    c.  Upon written application and the payment of a fee of fifty dollars
  which must accompany the application, the commission may  grant  to  any
  person  or corporation holding a license issued hereunder, the privilege
  of holding such a match or exhibition  on  a  specified  date  in  other
  premises,  or  in  another  location,  than  the  premises  or  location
  previously approved by the commission, subject however  to  approval  of
  the commission and the rules and regulations of the commission.
    2.  a.  The  commission  may, in its discretion and in accordance with
  regulations adopted by the commission to protect the health  and  safety
  of  professional  boxers  in  training,  issue  a  license  to operate a
  training  facility  providing   contact   sparring   maintained   either
  exclusively  or  in  part  for  the  use  of  professional  boxers.  The
  regulations of the commission shall include, but not be limited to,  the
  following  subjects  to  protect  the  health and safety of professional
  boxers:
    (i) Requirements for first aid materials to be stored in an accessible
  location on the premises and for the  presence  on  the  premises  of  a
  person trained and certified in the use of such materials and procedures
  for  cardio-pulmonary  resuscitation  at  all  times  during  which  the
  facility is open for training purposes;
    (ii) Prominent posting adjacent to  an  accessible  telephone  of  the
  telephone number for emergency medical services at the nearest hospital;
    (iii)  Clean  and  sanitary  bathrooms, shower rooms, locker rooms and
  food serving and storage areas;
    (iv) Adequate ventilation and lighting  of  accessible  areas  of  the
  training facility;

    (v) Establishment of a policy concerning the restriction of smoking in
  training areas, including provisions for its enforcement by the facility
  operator;
    (vi) Compliance with state and local fire ordinances;
    (vii)  Inspection  and  approval  of  rings  as  required  by  section
  twenty-four of this chapter; and
    (viii) Establishment of a policy for posting  all  commission  license
  suspensions   and  license  revocations  received  from  the  commission
  including provisions for enforcement of such suspensions and revocations
  by the facility operator.
    b. A prospective licensee shall submit to the commission proof that it
  can  furnish  suitable  facilities  in  which  the  training  is  to  be
  conducted,  including  the  making of such training facilities available
  for inspection by the commission at any time during which training is in
  progress.
    c. On  the  first  infraction  of  rules  or  regulations  promulgated
  pursuant to this subdivision, which infraction may include more than one
  individual  violation,  the  commission may impose a civil fine of up to
  two hundred fifty dollars for each health and safety violation  and  may
  suspend   the   training  facility's  license  until  the  violation  or
  violations are corrected. On the second such infraction, the  commission
  may  impose  a  civil fine of up to five hundred dollars for each health
  and safety violation and may suspend  the  training  facility's  license
  until  the  violation  or  violations  are  corrected. On the third such
  infraction or for subsequent infractions, the commission  may  impose  a
  civil  fine  of  up  to  seven hundred fifty dollars for each health and
  safety violation and may revoke the training facility's license.
    3. All penalties imposed and collected  by  the  commission  from  any
  corporation,  person  or  persons  licensed under the provisions of this
  act, which fines and penalties are imposed and collected under authority
  hereby vested shall within thirty days after the receipt thereof by  the
  commission be paid by them into the state treasury.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 9. Temporary working permits. The commission shall issue temporary
  working  permits  to  box  office  employees,  ushers, ticket takers and
  doormen good for employment at a single exhibition of  boxing,  sparring
  or  professional wrestling, at a stated time and place. The fee for each
  such temporary working permit shall be  established  by  the  commission
  pursuant  to  rule.  No person shall be entitled to obtain more than six
  temporary working permits in any one license year.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 9-a. Temporary working permits for boxers, managers, trainers  and
  seconds.   The   commission  may  issue  temporary  working  permits  to
  professional boxers, their managers, trainers and seconds.  A  temporary
  working  permit  shall  authorize  the  employment of the holder of such
  permit to engage in a single match at a  specified  time  and  place.  A
  temporary  working  permit  may  be  issued  if  in  the judgment of the
  commission the participation of the holder thereof  in  a  boxing  match
  will be consistent with the purposes and provisions of this chapter, the
  best interests of boxing generally, and the public interest, convenience
  or  necessity.  The  commission  may  require  that  boxers applying for
  temporary working permits undergo a physical  examination,  neurological
  or      neuropsychological      test     or     procedure,     including
  electroencephalography and computed tomography or  medically  equivalent
  procedure.   The   fee  for  such  temporary  working  permit  shall  be
  established by the commission pursuant to rule.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016

    * §  9-b.  Temporary  training  facilities.  Any   training   facility
  providing  contact  sparring  established  and maintained on a temporary
  basis for the purpose  of  preparing  a  professional  boxer  or  for  a
  specific boxing or sparring match or exhibition to be conducted, held or
  given within the state of New York shall be exempt from this act insofar
  as  it concerns the licensing of such facilities if, in the judgement of
  the commission, establishment and maintenance of such facility  will  be
  consistent  with  the  purposes and provisions of this chapter, the best
  interests of boxing generally, and the public interest,  convenience  or
  necessity.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 10. License fees; term of licenses; renewals. Each applicant for a
  license  shall, before a license is issued by the commission, pay to the
  commission, an annual license fee as follows: corporations in cities  of
  the  first  class,  where  the  seating  capacity  is  not more than two
  thousand five hundred, four hundred and fifty dollars; where the seating
  capacity is more than two thousand five hundred but not more  than  five
  thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars; where the seating capacity is
  more than five thousand but not more than fifteen thousand, one thousand
  dollars;  where  the  seating capacity is more than fifteen thousand but
  not more than twenty-five thousand,  two  thousand  dollars;  where  the
  seating  capacity  is  more than twenty-five thousand, two thousand five
  hundred dollars; in cities of the second class, three  hundred  dollars;
  elsewhere,  one  hundred fifty dollars; corporations or persons applying
  to operate a training facility  providing  contact  sparring  maintained
  either  exclusively  or  in part for the use of professional boxers, one
  hundred  dollars;  referees,  fifty  dollars;  judges,  fifty   dollars;
  matchmakers,  fifty  dollars; corporation-treasurers, fifty dollars; box
  office employees, twenty dollars; timekeepers, ten dollars; professional
  boxers, ten dollars; managers, thirty dollars;  trainers,  ten  dollars;
  seconds,  ten dollars; ticket takers, ten dollars; doormen, ten dollars;
  ushers, ten dollars; special policemen, ten dollars; announcers,  twenty
  dollars. Each license or renewal thereof issued pursuant to this section
  on  or  after  October  1,  1938,  shall be effective for a license year
  expiring on the thirtieth day of September following  the  date  of  its
  issuance. The annual license fee prescribed by this section shall be the
  license fee due and payable therefor and shall be paid in advance at the
  time  application is made therefor, and each such license may be renewed
  for periods of one year upon the  payment  of  the  annual  license  fee
  prescribed  by this section. Within three years from the date of payment
  and upon the audit of the comptroller, the  commission  may  refund  any
  fee,  unforfeited posted guarantee or tax paid pursuant to this act, for
  which no license is issued or no service rendered or refund that portion
  of the payment that is in excess of the amount prescribed by statute.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 11. Application for license; fingerprints.  1.  Every  application
  for a license shall be in writing, shall be addressed to the commission,
  shall  be subscribed by the applicant, and affirmed by him as true under
  the penalties of  perjury,  and  shall  set  forth  such  facts  as  the
  provisions  hereof  and  the rules and regulations of the commission may
  require.
    2. When an application is made for  a  license  under  this  act,  the
  commission  shall  cause  the fingerprints of such applicant, or if such
  applicant be a corporation, of the officers of such corporation,  to  be
  taken  in  triplicate.  One  copy  shall  be  filed in the office of the
  division of criminal  justice  services  at  Albany,  one  copy  may  be
  submitted to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal
  history  record check, and one shall remain on file in the office of the

  commission. No such fingerprint may be inspected by  any  person,  other
  than  a  peace officer, except on order of a judge or justice of a court
  of record. The information obtained by any such fingerprint  examination
  shall  be  for  the  guidance  of  the commission in the exercise of its
  discretion in granting or withholding the license.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 12. Standards for the issuance of licenses.
    1. If in the judgment of the commission the financial  responsibility,
  experience,  character and general fitness of an applicant, including in
  the case of corporations its officers and stockholders,  are  such  that
  the  participation  of such applicant will be consistent with the public
  interest,  convenience  or  necessity  and  the  safety  of  boxing  and
  wrestling  participants  and  with  the  best  interests  of  boxing  or
  wrestling generally and in conformity with the purposes of this act, the
  commission may grant a license in accordance with the provisions  herein
  contained.
    2.  Any  professional  boxer  applying  for  a license or renewal of a
  license under  this  chapter  shall  undergo  a  comprehensive  physical
  examination   including  clinical  neurological  and  neuropsychological
  examinations by a physician approved by the commission. If, at the  time
  of such examination, there is any indication of brain injury, or for any
  other  reason  the  physician  deems  it appropriate, the boxer shall be
  required  to  undergo  further   neurological   and   neuropsychological
  examinations  by a neurologist including, but not limited to, a computed
  tomography or medically equivalent procedure. The commission  shall  not
  issue  a  license  to  a boxer until such examinations are completed and
  reviewed by the commission. The results of all such examinations  herein
  required  shall become a part of the boxer's permanent medical record as
  maintained by the commission. The costs of all such examinations  called
  for  in  this  subdivision  shall  be  assumed  by  the  state  if  such
  examinations are performed by a physician or neurologist approved by the
  commission.
    3. Any professional boxer licensed under  this  chapter  shall,  as  a
  condition  of  licensure,  waive  right  of  confidentiality  of medical
  records relating to treatment of any physical condition which relates to
  his ability to fight. All medical reports submitted to, and all  medical
  records  of the medical advisory board or the commission relative to the
  physical examination or condition  of  boxers  and  wrestlers  shall  be
  considered  confidential,  and  shall be open to examination only to the
  commissioner or its authorized representative, to the licensed boxer  or
  manager  upon  written  application to examine said records, or upon the
  order of a court of competent jurisdiction in an appropriate case.
    4. All contracts calling for the services  of  a  boxer  in  a  boxing
  contest  and  entered into by licensed promoting corporations, boxers or
  managers as one or more of the  parties  in  such  contracts,  including
  those  contracts  which  relate to the rights to distribute, televise or
  otherwise transmit any boxing bout over the airwaves or by  cable  shall
  be subject to the approval of the commission and copies thereof shall be
  filed  with  the commission by such corporation, boxer or manager within
  forty-eight hours after the execution of such contract and at least  ten
  business  days  prior to any bouts, or the first of any series of bouts,
  to which they relate. The commission may waive such filing deadline  for
  good cause shown.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  13.  Financial  interest  in  boxer prohibited. No corporation or
  person shall have, either directly or indirectly, any financial interest
  in a boxer competing on premises owned or leased by the  corporation  or

  person,  or  in which such corporation or person is otherwise interested
  except pursuant to the specific written authorization of the commission.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  14.  Payments  not to be made before contests. No contestant in a
  boxing or sparring match or exhibition shall be paid for services before
  the contest, and should it be determined by  the  commission  that  such
  contestant did not give an honest exhibition of his skill, such services
  shall not be paid for.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  15.  Sham  or  collusive  exhibitions.  Any person, including any
  corporation and the officers thereof,  any  physician,  referee,  judge,
  timekeeper,  boxer,  manager,  trainer  or  second,  who  shall promote,
  conduct, give or participate in any sham or collusive boxing or sparring
  match or exhibition, shall be deprived of his license by the commission.
    No licensed promoting corporation or matchmaker shall knowingly engage
  in a course of conduct in which fights are arranged where one boxer  has
  skills  or experience significantly in excess of the other boxer so that
  a mismatch results with the potential of physical harm to the boxer.  If
  such action occurs, the commission may exercise its powers to discipline
  under section seventeen of this chapter.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  16.  Imposition  of  penalties  for  violations. Any corporation,
  person or persons, licensed under the provisions of this  chapter,  that
  shall  willfully  violate  any  rule  or  order of the commission or any
  provision of this chapter, in addition  to  any  other  penalty  by  law
  prescribed,  shall  be  liable  to  a  civil  penalty  not to exceed ten
  thousand dollars for the first offense and  not  to  exceed  twenty-five
  thousand  dollars  for  the  second  and  each subsequent offense, to be
  imposed by the commission, to be sued for by the attorney-general in the
  name of the people  of  the  state  of  New  York  if  directed  by  the
  commission.  The  amount  of  the penalty collected by the commission or
  recovered in  any  such  action,  or  paid  to  the  commission  upon  a
  compromise   as  hereinafter  provided,  shall  be  transmitted  by  the
  department of state into the state treasury and credited to the  general
  fund.  The  commission,  for  cause  shown,  may extend the time for the
  payment of such penalty and, by compromise, may  accept  less  than  the
  amount  of  such  penalty  as  imposed  in  settlement  thereof. For the
  purposes of this section, each transaction or statutory violation  shall
  constitute  a  separate  offense,  except  that  a  second or subsequent
  offense shall not be deemed to exist unless a decision has been rendered
  in a prior, separate and independent proceeding.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 17. Revocation or suspension of licenses. (a) Any  license  issued
  under  the  provisions  of  this  act may be revoked or suspended by the
  commission for the reason therein stated, that the licensee has, in  the
  judgment  of  the  commission,  been guilty of an act detrimental to the
  interests of boxing or wrestling generally or to  the  public  interest,
  convenience or necessity.
    (b)  Without  otherwise  limiting  the discretion of the commission as
  provided in this act, the commission may suspend or revoke a license  or
  refuse to renew or issue a license, if it shall find that the applicant,
  or  any  person  who  is  a  partner,  agent,  employee,  stockholder or
  associate of the applicant,  has  been  convicted  of  a  crime  in  any
  jurisdiction, or is associating or consorting with any person who has or
  persons who have been convicted of a crime or crimes in any jurisdiction
  or  jurisdictions, or is consorting or associating with or has consorted
  or associated with bookmakers, gamblers or persons of similar  pursuits,
  or   has   himself  engaged  in  similar  pursuits,  or  is  financially

  irresponsible,  or  has  been  guilty  of  or  attempted  any  fraud  or
  misrepresentation   in  connection  with  boxing,  or  has  violated  or
  attempted to violate any law with respect to boxing in any  jurisdiction
  or  any  rule,  regulation  or  order  of  the commission, or shall have
  violated any rule of boxing which shall have been approved or adopted by
  the commission, or has been guilty of or engaged in similar, related  or
  like practices.
    (c) No such contestant may, under any circumstances, compete or appear
  in  such a match, exhibition or noncompetitive boxing within ninety days
  of having suffered a knockout in any such match or exhibition, or within
  forty-five days of having suffered a technical knockout where  there  is
  evidence  of  head  trauma  as  determined  by  the attending commission
  physician and shall undergo such examinations as required under  section
  twenty-five   of  this  chapter.  The  contestant  shall  be  considered
  suspended from boxing by the commission and shall forfeit his license to
  the commission during such period and such license shall not be returned
  to the contestant until the boxer has met all requirements, medical  and
  otherwise, for reinstatement of such license. All such suspensions shall
  be  recorded  in  the  boxer's  license  by  a  commission official. For
  purposes of this section noncompetitive boxing shall include any contact
  training or sparring.
    (d) The commission may at any time suspend, revoke or deny  a  boxer's
  license or temporary working permit for medical reasons.
    (e)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision of law, the commission may
  revoke any license issued under the provisions of  this  chapter  if  it
  shall  find that the licensee has knowingly and intentionally engaged in
  any prohibited practices, as prescribed by the commission in  rules  and
  regulations  promulgated pursuant to subdivision 5 of section 23 of this
  chapter, during a boxing or sparring match or exhibition.
    (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,  if  any  other  state
  shall  revoke  a  licensee's  license  to  box  in that state based on a
  knowing and intentional engagement in any prohibited practices  of  such
  state,  the  commission  may  act to revoke any license to box issued to
  such licensee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * 18. Advertising matter to state admission price.  It  shall  be  the
  duty  of every person or corporation promoting or conducting a boxing or
  sparring match or exhibition subject to the provisions of  this  chapter
  to  cause  to  be  inserted  in  each show card, bill, poster, newspaper
  advertisement and in each and every advertisement of any  exhibition  or
  contest  given  by  it, the price of admission thereto. Violation of the
  provisions of this section shall subject the person or corporation to  a
  fine of one hundred dollars.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  19.  Tickets to indicate purchase price. All tickets of admission
  to any boxing, sparring or professional wrestling  match  or  exhibition
  shall  be  controlled  by  the  provisions of article 25 of the arts and
  cultural affairs law. It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation
  to admit to such match or exhibition a number of people greater than the
  seating capacity of the place where such contest is held.  Violation  of
  this  section shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as such and
  in addition shall incur forfeiture of license.
    * NB Effective until July 1, 2018
    * § 19. Tickets to indicate purchase price. All tickets  of  admission
  to  any  boxing,  sparring or professional wrestling match or exhibition
  shall bear clearly upon the face thereof the purchase price of same, and
  no such tickets shall be sold by such licensee for more than such  price
  as printed thereon, or by any other person coming into possession of the

  same  for  a  price  in excess of fifty cents in advance of such printed
  price. It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation  to  admit  to
  such  match  or  exhibition  a number of people greater than the seating
  capacity  of  the  place  where  such contest is held. Violation of this
  section shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as  such  and  in
  addition shall incur forfeiture of license.
    * NB Effective July 1, 2018
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  20.  Equipment  of  buildings  for  exhibitions. All buildings or
  structures used or intended to be used for  holding  or  giving  boxing,
  sparring  or  professional  wrestling  matches  or  exhibitions shall be
  properly ventilated and provided with fire exits and fire  escapes,  and
  in all manner conform to the laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining
  to buildings in the city, town or village where situated.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 21. Age of participants and spectators. No person under the age of
  eighteen years shall participate in any professional boxing, sparring or
  professional  wrestling match or exhibition, and no person under sixteen
  years of age shall be  permitted  to  attend  thereat  as  a  spectator;
  provided,  however,  that a person between the ages of eight and sixteen
  shall be permitted to attend thereat as a spectator if accompanied by  a
  parent or guardian.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  22. Weights; classes and rules. The weights and classes of boxers
  and the rules and regulations of  boxing  shall  be  prescribed  by  the
  commission.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  23. Regulation of conduct of matches or exhibitions. 1. No boxing
  or sparring match or exhibition shall be of more than twelve  rounds  in
  length, such rounds to be not more than three minutes each; and no boxer
  shall  be  allowed  to  participate  in  more  than twelve rounds within
  seventy-two consecutive hours. The commission may in respect to any bout
  or in respect to any class of contestants limit the number of rounds  of
  a  bout  within the maximum of twelve rounds. At each boxing or sparring
  match or exhibition except where the exhibitions  are  held  solely  for
  training  purposes, there shall be in attendance a duly licensed referee
  who shall direct and control the same. Before starting such contest  the
  referee  shall  ascertain  from  each  contestant  the name of his chief
  second, and shall hold such chief second responsible for the conduct  of
  his assistant seconds during the progress of the contest. The commission
  shall  have  power  in  its  discretion  to declare forfeited any prize,
  remuneration or purse, or any part thereof, belonging to the contestants
  or one of them, or the share thereof of any manager if in its  judgment,
  such  contestant  or  contestants  are  not  honestly  competing  or the
  contestant or manager of a contestant, as the case may be, has committed
  an act in the premises in violation of any rule, order or regulation  of
  the commission. The amount so forfeited shall be paid within forty-eight
  hours to the commission. There shall also be in attendance, except where
  the  exhibitions  are  held  solely  for  training  purposes, three duly
  licensed judges who shall at the termination  of  each  such  boxing  or
  sparring  match or exhibition render their decision. The winner shall be
  determined in  accordance  with  a  scoring  system  prescribed  by  the
  commission.  Each  contestant  shall  wear,  during such contest, gloves
  weighing not less than eight ounces, unless otherwise  directed  by  the
  commission.  Thumbless  boxing  gloves (or gloves with the thumb section
  locked, fastened, tied or immovably set to the balance of the glove)  of
  a type approved by the commission shall be used in all boxing matches or
  exhibitions,  provided,  however, that this requirement may be waived at

  the discretion of the commission for championship matches  of  at  least
  twelve scheduled rounds.
    2.  The  commission  may  by  rule,  regulation  or order, require the
  presence of any medical  equipment  and  personnel  at  each  boxing  or
  sparring  match  or  exhibition  as  is  necessary or beneficial for the
  safety and protection of the  contestants;  and  may  also  require  the
  presence  of  an  ambulance  or  other apparatus at the site of any such
  match or exhibition or the promulgation of an emergency medical plan  in
  lieu thereof.
    3.   The   commission  shall  prescribe  by  rule  or  regulation  the
  responsibilities of managers, trainers and seconds prior to, during  and
  after  a  boxing or sparring match or exhibition in order to promote the
  safety of the contestants at all times.
    4. The commission  shall  require  by  rule  or  regulation  that  any
  professional  boxer  licensed under this chapter present to a designated
  commission official, before each match or exhibition in which he  fights
  in  this  state, a license which shall include but not be limited to the
  following information: (a) the boxer's name, photograph, social security
  number, date of  birth,  and  other  identifying  information;  (b)  the
  boxer's  prior fight history including the dates, location, and decision
  of such fights;  (c)  the  boxer's  medical  history,  relating  to  any
  physical  condition,  medical  test  or  procedure  which relates to his
  ability to fight, and a record of all medical suspensions.
    5.  The  commission  shall  prescribe  by  rule  or   regulation   the
  unsportsmanlike  practices  prohibited in all boxing or sparring matches
  or exhibitions, which shall include the practice of biting.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 24. Rings. No boxing contest or exhibition  or  training  activity
  shall  be  permitted in any ring unless such ring has been inspected and
  approved by the commission.  The  commission  shall  prescribe  standard
  acceptable  size  and  quality  requirements for rings and appurtenances
  thereto.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 25. Examination by physician; cost. 1. All boxers must be examined
  by a physician designated by the commission before entering the ring and
  each such physician shall immediately file with the commission a written
  report of such  examination.  The  cost  of  any  such  examination,  as
  prescribed by a schedule of fees established by the commission, shall be
  paid  by  the  corporation  conducting  the contest or exhibition to the
  commission, which shall then pay the  fee  covering  such  cost  to  the
  examining physician, in accordance with the rules of the commission.
    2.  Any  professional  boxer  licensed  under  this  chapter  rendered
  unconscious or suffering head trauma  as  determined  by  the  attending
  physician  shall  be  immediately  examined  by the attending commission
  physician  and  shall  be   required   to   undergo   neurological   and
  neuropsychological  examinations  by  a  neurologist  including  but not
  limited to a computed tomography or medically equivalent procedure.  Any
  boxer  so  injured  shall  not  appear  in any match or exhibition until
  results of such examinations are reviewed by the commission. The results
  of all such examinations herein required shall  become  a  part  of  the
  boxer's  permanent  medical  record  as maintained by the commission and
  shall be used by the commission to determine whether a  boxer  shall  be
  permitted  to appear in any future boxing match or exhibition. The costs
  of all such examinations called for in this subdivision and  subdivision
  three  shall  be assumed by the state if such examinations are performed
  by a physician approved by the commission.

    3. The commission may at any time require a licensed boxer to  undergo
  a physical examination, including any neurological or neuropsychological
  test or procedure.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 26. Physician to be in attendance; powers of such physician. 1. It
  shall  be  the duty of every person or corporation licensed to conduct a
  boxing or sparring match or exhibition, to have in attendance  at  every
  boxing   or  sparring  match  or  exhibition,  at  least  one  physician
  designated by the commission as the rules shall provide. The  commission
  may establish a schedule of fees to be paid by the licensee to cover the
  cost  of  such  attendance.  Such  fees shall be paid to the commission,
  which shall then pay such fees to the physicians  entitled  thereto,  in
  accordance with the rules of the commission.
    2.  The  physician  shall  terminate  any  boxing or sparring match or
  exhibition if in the  opinion  of  such  physician  any  contestant  has
  received  severe  punishment or is in danger of serious physical injury.
  In the event of  any  serious  physical  injury,  such  physician  shall
  immediately  render any emergency treatment necessary, recommend further
  treatment or hospitalization if required, and fully  report  the  entire
  matter  to  the  commission  within  twenty-four hours and if necessary,
  subsequently thereafter.  Such  physician  may  also  require  that  the
  injured  boxer  and his manager remain in the ring or on the premises or
  report to a hospital after the contest for such period of time  as  such
  physician deems advisable.
    3.  Such  physician  may enter the ring at any time during a boxing or
  sparring match or exhibition and may  terminate  the  match  if  in  his
  opinion  the  same  is necessary to prevent severe punishment or serious
  physical injury to a contestant.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 27. Bond. Before a  license  shall  be  granted  to  a  person  or
  corporation  to  conduct  a  boxing or sparring match or exhibition, the
  applicant shall execute and file with  the  comptroller  a  bond  in  an
  amount to be determined by the commission, to be approved as to form and
  sufficiency  of sureties thereon by the comptroller, conditioned for the
  faithful performance by said corporation of the provisions of  this  act
  and the rules and regulations of the commission, and upon the filing and
  approval  of  said  bond the comptroller shall issue to said applicant a
  certificate of  such  filing  and  approval,  which  shall  be  by  said
  applicant filed in the office of the commission with its application for
  license,  and  no  such  license  shall be issued until such certificate
  shall be filed. In case of default in such performance,  the  commission
  may impose upon the delinquent a penalty in the sum of not more than one
  thousand  dollars  for  each  offense,  which  may  be  recovered by the
  attorney-general in the name of the people of the state of New  York  in
  the  same  manner as other penalties are recovered by law; any amount so
  recovered shall be paid into the treasury.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 28. Bond for purses, salaries and other expenses. In  addition  to
  the  bond required by section twenty-seven, each applicant for a license
  to conduct a boxing or sparring match or exhibition  shall  execute  and
  file  with  the  comptroller a bond in an amount to be determined by the
  commission to be approved as to form and sufficiency of sureties thereon
  by the comptroller, conditioned for  and  guaranteeing  the  payment  of
  boxers'  and  wrestlers'  purses, salaries of club employees licensed by
  the commission, and the legitimate expenses of printing tickets and  all
  advertising material.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016

    * §   28-a.   Duty  to  provide  insurance  for  licensed  boxers  and
  professional wrestlers. 1. All persons, parties or  corporations  having
  licenses  as  promoters  or  who are licensed in accordance with section
  28-b of this act shall continuously provide insurance for the protection
  of licensed boxers and professional wrestlers, appearing in boxing bouts
  or  wrestling  exhibitions.  Such  insurance  coverage shall provide for
  reimbursement to the licensed athlete for medical, surgical and hospital
  care, with a minimum limit of seven thousand five  hundred  dollars  for
  injuries sustained while participating in any program operated under the
  control  of  such  licensed  promoter  and  for a payment of one hundred
  thousand dollars to the estate of any deceased athlete where such  death
  is  occasioned by injuries received in this state during the course of a
  program  in  which  such  licensed  athlete  or  professional   wrestler
  participated  under  the  promotion or control of any licensed promoter.
  The commission may from time to time, in its  discretion,  increase  the
  amount of such minimum limits.
    2. The failure to provide such insurance as is required by subdivision
  one  of this section shall be cause for the suspension or the revocation
  of the license of such defaulting promoter.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 28-b. Professional wrestling; promoters. 1. For  the  purposes  of
  this  act,  "professional  wrestling"  shall  mean  an activity in which
  participants  struggle  hand-in-hand  primarily  for  the   purpose   of
  providing entertainment to spectators and which does not comprise a bona
  fide athletic contest or competition.
    2.  Every  person,  partnership  or  corporation promoting one or more
  professional wrestling exhibitions in this state shall  be  required  to
  obtain from the commission an annual license to conduct such exhibitions
  subject  to  terms and conditions promulgated by the commission pursuant
  to rule and consistent with the applicable provisions of this act.  Each
  applicant shall pay an annual fee established by the commission pursuant
  to rule.
    3.  A  licensed promoter of a professional wrestling exhibition in the
  state shall notify the athletic commission at least ten days in  advance
  of  the  holding of the exhibition. Each such promoter shall execute and
  file with the comptroller a bond in  an  amount  not  less  than  twenty
  thousand  dollars  to be approved as to form and sufficiency of sureties
  thereon by the comptroller, conditioned for and guaranteeing the payment
  of professional wrestler's purses, salaries of club  employees  licensed
  by  the  commission, the legitimate expenses of printing tickets and all
  advertising material, payments  to  sponsoring  organizations,  and  the
  applicable state and local sales and compensating use tax.
    4.  A  licensed  promoter of a professional wrestling exhibition shall
  provide for a licensed physician to be present at each  exhibition,  and
  such  physician  shall  examine each wrestler prior to each performance,
  and  each  such  pre-performance  examination  shall  be  conducted   in
  accordance with regulations prescribed by the commission.
    5.  Every licensed promoter of professional wrestling who promotes six
  or more exhibitions in the state in a calendar year must have  in  place
  an  anti-drug  plan  and  file with the commission a written copy of the
  plan.  Each such plan shall address the use of  a  controlled  substance
  defined  in  article 33 of the public health law, and such plan shall at
  minimum provide for the following:
    (a) dissemination of educational materials to  professional  wrestlers
  who  perform  for any such promoter including a list of prohibited drugs
  and available rehabilitation services; and
    (b) a referral procedure to permit any such professional  wrestler  to
  obtain rehabilitation services.

    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * §  29.  Notice of contest or exhibition; collection of tax. 1. Every
  individual, corporation, association or club holding any professional or
  amateur boxing, sparring or professional wrestling match or  exhibition,
  for  which  an  admission  fee  is charged or received, shall notify the
  athletic commission ten days in advance of the holding of such  contest.
  All  tickets  of  admission to any such boxing, sparring or professional
  wrestling match or exhibition shall be  procured  from  a  printer  duly
  authorized  by  the  state athletic commission to print such tickets and
  shall bear clearly upon the face thereof the purchase price and location
  of same. Any individual, corporation, association  or  club  failing  to
  fully  comply  with  this section shall be subject to a penalty of fifty
  dollars to be collected by and paid to  the  department  of  state.  Any
  individual,   corporation,   association  or  club  is  prohibited  from
  operating any shows or exhibitions until all penalties due  pursuant  to
  this  section  and taxes, interest and penalties due pursuant to article
  nineteen of the tax law have been paid.
    2. Pursuant to direction by the commissioner of taxation and  finance,
  employees  or officers of the athletic commission shall act as agents of
  the commissioner of taxation and finance to collect the tax  imposed  by
  article  nineteen  of the tax law. The athletic commission shall provide
  the commissioner of taxation  and  finance  with  such  information  and
  technical  assistance  as may be necessary for the proper administration
  of such tax.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 30. Disposition of receipts. All receipts of the commission  shall
  be  paid  into the state treasury. Provided, however, that receipts from
  the tax imposed by article nineteen of the tax law shall be deposited as
  provided by section one hundred seventy-one-a of the tax law.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 31. Exceptions. The provisions of this act except as  provided  in
  section  29  of this act shall not be construed to apply to any sparring
  or boxing contest or exhibition conducted under the supervision  or  the
  control  of the New York state national guard or naval militia where all
  of the contestants are members of the active militia; nor  to  any  such
  contest  or exhibition where the contestants are all amateurs, sponsored
  by or under the supervision of any university, college, school or  other
  institution  of  learning, recognized by the regents of the state of New
  York; nor to any such contest or exhibitions where the  contestants  are
  all  amateurs sponsored by or under the supervision of the U. S. Amateur
  Boxing Federation or  its  local  affiliates  or  the  American  Olympic
  Association;  nor except as to the extent provided in sections 5, 9, 19,
  20, 28-a, 28-b and 33 of this act, to any professional wrestling contest
  or exhibition as defined in this act. For the purpose of  this  act,  an
  amateur  is  deemed  to mean a person who engages in boxing, sparring or
  wrestling contests and exhibitions where no cash prizes are  awarded  to
  participants, and where the prize competed for shall not in value exceed
  thirty-five  dollars  or, in boxing, a maximum amount established by the
  U.S. Amateur Boxing Federation. Any individual, association, corporation
  or club, except elementary or high schools or equivalent institutions of
  learning recognized by the regents of the state  of  New  York,  who  or
  which conducts an amateur contest pursuant to this section must register
  with  the  U.  S.  Amateur Boxing Federation or its local affiliates and
  abide by its rules and regulations.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 32. Safety headgear. The commission shall  undertake  a  study  of
  various  types  of safety headgear that may be used by boxers during the
  course of a contest or bout. The  commission  shall  develop,  or  shall

  contract  to develop, a safety headgear prototype during the course, and
  in furtherance, of the study to be conducted hereunder. Such study shall
  include the safety and effectiveness that the wearing of  various  types
  of  headgear  may  demonstrate,  including  the  ramifications  that the
  wearing  of  headgear  may  have  on  the  sport  of  boxing   and   the
  psychological  effect  it  may  have on the boxers. The commission shall
  make a written report of its findings from  such  study,  including  any
  appropriate  recommendations,  to  the  governor  and the legislature no
  later than one year from the date this section takes effect.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 33.  Misdemeanor.  Any  person  or  corporation  who  directly  or
  indirectly  conducts,  holds  or  gives  boxing  or  sparring matches or
  exhibitions or participates either directly or indirectly in any  boxing
  or  sparring  match  or  exhibition  as  a  referee, judge, match-maker,
  timekeeper, corporation treasurer,  box  office  employee,  professional
  boxer,  manager,  trainer,  second  or  announcer  without  first having
  procured an appropriate license as  prescribed  in  this  act  shall  be
  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor.  Any  person, partnership or corporation who
  promotes a professional wrestling  match  or  exhibition  in  the  state
  without  first having procured an appropriate license in accordance with
  section 28-b of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
    Nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  deemed  to  apply  to   amateur
  exhibitions.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016
    * § 34. Regulation of boxing contracts and promotion of matches. 1. No
  professional boxing match may occur in the state unless the organization
  that  promotes,  sanctions or otherwise participates in the proposition,
  selection, or arrangement of one or more boxers for a contest files with
  the commission a written statement executed  under  penalty  of  perjury
  stating (a) all charges, expenses, fees, and costs that will be assessed
  against  any  boxer  participating  in  the  event;  (b)  all  payments,
  benefits, complimentary benefits and fees  the  organization  or  entity
  will  receive  for  its  affiliation with the event; (c) the name of the
  promoter; (d) sponsor of the event; and (e) all other sources, and  such
  other  and  additional  information  as required by the commission. Such
  written statement shall be filed in a form and manner acceptable to  the
  commission.
    2.  No  professional  boxing  match may occur in this state unless the
  promoter, organizer,  producer  or  another  that  participates  in  the
  proposition,  selection,  or  arrangement  of  one  or more boxers for a
  contest files with the commission a written statement under  penalty  of
  perjury  detailing  all  charges, fees, costs and expenses by or through
  the promoter on the boxer pertaining to the event, including any portion
  of the boxer's  purse  that  the  promoter  will  receive  and  training
  expenses  and  all payments, gifts or benefits the promoter is providing
  to any sanctioning organization affiliated with the event. Such  written
  statement  shall  be  filed  in  a  form  and  manner  acceptable to the
  commission.
    3. No professional boxing match may occur in  this  state  unless  the
  promoter,  organizer,  producer  or  another  that  participates  in the
  proposition, selection, or arrangement of  one  or  more  boxers  for  a
  contest  files with the commission a copy of any agreement in writing to
  which the promoter is a party with any boxer participating in the match.
    4. Any contract between a  boxer  and  a  promoter  or  manager  shall
  provide  for  specific  limitation of option contracts between the boxer
  and the promoter or between promoters with respect to  a  boxer,  to  no
  more  than  one  year,  if  the granting of such rights is required as a

  condition to the boxer's participation in a contest, renewable  only  in
  writing signed by both parties.
    5.  Any promoter exercising promotional rights with respect to a boxer
  during the twelve month period beginning on the day after the  last  day
  of  the  promotional  right period described in subdivision four of this
  section between a boxer and the  promoter  or  manager  may  not  secure
  exclusive  promotional  rights from the boxer's opponents as a condition
  of participating in a professional boxing match against the  boxer,  and
  any   contract  to  the  contrary  is  contrary  to  public  policy  and
  unenforceable.
    6. Any specific agreement or any provisions in any agreement requiring
  the hiring, retention, employment, or the receipt of compensation by any
  relative, associate, or other individual in any  capacity  connected  to
  the promoter or manager is against public policy and unenforceable.
    7.  Any  contract between a boxer and the promoter or manager shall be
  in writing and filed with the commission at the time  any  agreement  is
  made  for  a match to take place in the state. All promoters or managers
  shall also file with the commission complete and accurate copies of  all
  fees and costs that will be assessed against the boxer.
    8.  The  provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to
  any corporation or partnership which operates  a  facility  used,  among
  other  things,  for  the  purposes of conducting, holding, presenting or
  hosting professional boxing matches, provided such entity does  not  act
  as a promoter regarding such matches.
    * NB Repealed September 1, 2016

Last modified: February 3, 2019