§41-9-1024. Alabama Athletic Commission - Powers and duties.

(a)(1) The commission shall be the sole regulator of professional boxing in this state and shall have authority to protect the physical safety and welfare of professional boxers and serve the public interest by closely supervising all professional boxing in this state.

(2) The commission shall be the sole regulator of professional and amateur matches, contests, or exhibitions of mixed martial arts and shall have the authority to protect the physical safety and welfare of professional competitors in mixed martial arts and serve the public interest by closely supervising all competitors in mixed martial arts. The commission shall regulate professional and amateur mixed martial arts to the same extent as professional boxing unless any rule of the commission is not by its nature applicable to mixed martial arts.

(3) Commencing on May 22, 2013, the commission shall be the sole regulator of professional matches, contests, or exhibitions of wrestling and shall have the authority to protect the physical safety and welfare of professional competitors in professional wrestling and serve the public interest by closely supervising all competitors in professional wrestling. The commission shall regulate professional wrestling to the same extent as professional boxing unless any rule of the commission is not by its nature applicable to professional wrestling.

(4) The commission shall have the sole authority to license a wrestling sanctioning organization to safeguard the public health, to protect competitors, and to provide for competitive matches by requiring each licensed organization to abide by rules promulgated by the commission. The commission, at the request of a licensed sanctioning organization, may provide direct oversight of any event sanctioned by the organization for a fee negotiated between the commission and the licensed sanctioning organization.

(5) The commission shall have the sole authority to license the promoters of tough man contests to safeguard the public health, to protect competitors, and to provide for competitive matches by requiring each licensed promoter to abide by rules promulgated by the commission. The commission, at the request of a promoter, may provide direct oversight of any tough man match for a fee negotiated between the commission and the promoter.

(b) The commission shall have the sole jurisdiction to license the promotion or holding of each match, contest, or exhibition of professional boxing, tough man contests, professional wrestling, amateur mixed martial arts, or professional mixed martial arts promoted or held within this state.

(c) The commission shall have the authority to license participants in any match, contest, or exhibition of professional boxing, professional wrestling, amateur mixed martial arts, or professional mixed martial arts held in this state.

(d) The commission shall have the authority to direct, manage, control, and supervise all matches, contests, or exhibitions of professional boxing, tough man contests, professional wrestling, amateur mixed martial arts, or professional mixed martial arts including, but not limited to, the authority to enforce safety measures and restrict access to certain areas for the protection of the public and participants. The commission may adopt bylaws for its own management and promulgate and enforce rules and regulations consistent with this article.

(e) The commission shall have the sole authority to inquire into the plans or arrangements for compliance of a licensed organization with rules promulgated by the commission. The commission may require a wrestling sanctioning organization to pay an annual licensure fee and any other fee determined necessary by the board and may penalize any organization for violation of this article or any rule promulgated by the commission pursuant to this article.

(f) The commission may appoint one or more inspectors as duly authorized representatives of the commission to ensure that the rules are strictly observed. The inspectors shall be present at all professional matches, contests, or exhibitions of boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts.

(g) The commission may designate physicians as duly authorized representatives of the commission to conduct physical examinations of boxers or mixed martial arts competitors licensed under this article and shall designate a roster of physicians authorized to conduct prefight physicals and serve as ringside physicians in all professional boxing, tough man, or mixed martial arts matches held in this state.

(h)(1) The commission or any agent duly designated by the commission may do any of the following:

a. Make investigations.

b. Hold hearings.

c. Issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and records.

d. Administer oaths to and examine any witnesses for the purpose of determining any question coming before it under this article or under the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this article.

e. Swear out a warrant of arrest against any person violating the criminal provisions of this article, and the commission shall not be liable in damages or to any action for damages by reason of swearing out a warrant or for causing the arrest and detention or imprisonment of any person under such warrant, unless the commission or agent fails to act in a reasonably prudent manner.

(2) During an investigation of any allegation which, if proven, would result in criminal or civil sanctions as provided in this article, the commission may withhold all or a portion of the gross receipts to which the person under investigation is entitled until such time as the matter has been resolved.

(i) The commission may engage in activities which promote amateur boxing, amateur wrestling, and amateur mixed martial arts in this state and contract with any nonprofit organization which is exempted from the taxation of income. To support amateur boxing, amateur wrestling, and amateur mixed martial arts in this state, the commission may promote voluntary contributions through the application process or through any fund-raising or other promotional technique deemed appropriate by the commission.

(j) Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 6301, et seq., the commission may issue to each boxer who is a resident of this state an identification card bearing the photograph of the boxer and in such form and containing such information as the commission deems necessary and appropriate. The commission shall ensure that the form and manner of issuance of the identification cards comply with any applicable federal law or regulation. The commission may charge an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per card for the issuance or replacement of each identification card.

(k) The commission may create a boxing registry or designate a nationally recognized boxing registry and register each boxer who is a resident of this state or who is a resident of another state which has no boxing registry.

(l) The commission may inquire into the financial backing of any professional match, contest, or exhibition of boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts and obtain answers to written or oral questions propounded to all persons associated with the professional event.

(m) The commission, pursuant to rule, may license any concessionaire, ring announcer, photographer, or other person receiving any portion of the gate proceeds from a match, contest, or exhibition held in the state pursuant to this article.

(Act 2009-622, p. 1872, §5; Act 2010-222, p. 392, §1; Act 2011-164, p. 297, §3; Act 2013-285, p. 961, §1.)