BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 587|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 587
Author: Stone (R)
Amended: 1/4/16
Vote: 21
SENATE BUS, PROF. & ECON. DEV. COMMITTEE: 8-0, 1/11/16
AYES: Hill, Bates, Berryhill, Block, Galgiani, Hernandez,
Jackson, Wieckowski
NO VOTE RECORDED: Mendoza
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: The State Athletic Commission
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill requires the California State Athletic
Commission to establish a task force to evaluate the impacts of
weight cutting, dehydration and rapid rehydration.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1) Provides, under the Boxing Act, or State Athletic Commission
Act (State Act), for the licensing and regulation of boxers,
kickboxers, martial arts athletes and events held in
California by the California State Athletic Commission
(Commission) within the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
and makes the Commission inoperative and repealed on January
1, 2020. (Business and Professions Code (BPC) § 18600 et
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seq.)
2) Establishes an Advisory Committee on Medical and Safety
Standards (MAC) consisting of six licensed physicians
appointed by the Commission which meets for the purpose of
studying and recommending medical and safety standards for
the conduct of boxing, wrestling and martial arts contests.
(BPC § 18645)
3) Requires a licensed physician approved by the Commission with
at least three years of experience in the practice of
medicine to be present at all Commission regulated events.
Requires the physician present at an event to perform the
physical examination of the contestants and observe the
physical condition of the contestants during the event. (BPC
§ 18705)
4) Requires the physician above to conduct a physical
examination, not later than at the time of weigh-in, of the
contestant and certify in writing as to the contestant's
physical condition to engage in the contest or match.
Specifies that the weigh-in time shall not be more than 30
hours prior to the beginning of the first event. (BPC §
18706)
5) Requires a contestant to complete a questionnaire developed
by the Commission on which he or she is asked to disclose any
conditions, including, but not limited to significant weight
gain or loss and any change in weight in the seven days prior
to the contest. (Id.)
6) Requires the Commission to establish by rule the weight
spreads and classes of contestants. (BPC § 18728)
7) Requires the Commission, by rule and regulation, to prescribe
the length and duration of professional and amateur
kickboxing and martial arts contests, the weight
classifications, the manner in which the contestants engage
in such contests and such further safeguards and conditions
as shall insure fair, sportsmanlike, and scientific contests.
(BPC § 18765)
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8) Establishes nine weights and classes, including the range of
pounds in each class and specifies that no contest shall be
scheduled and no contestant engage in a contest where the
weight difference exceeds the allowance outlined in
regulation. (4 CCR §298)
This bill:
1) Requires the Commission to establish a task force to evaluate
the impacts of weight cutting, dehydration, and rapid
rehydration. Authorizes the task force to be comprised of
physicians and surgeons with expertise in dehydration and
rapid rehydration and boxing and mixed martial arts
stakeholders, including licensees.
2) Requires the task force, in evaluating impacts of weight
cutting, dehydration and rapid rehydration to consider the
dangers of certain practices athletes undergo prior to
weighing in before an event. Authorizes the task force to
provide recommendations to the Commission that include, but
are not limited to, proper techniques to detect dehydration,
outreach the Commission can undertake to educate licensees
about dehydration and rapid rehydration and the
appropriateness of Commission weight classifications.
Background
Significant and dangerous weight loss efforts leading up to a
fighter's weigh-in before an event can result in dehydration and
other negative health impacts like decreased kidney function and
increased risk of brain injury, and can also hinder a fighter's
performance in the event. The practice of losing a large amount
of weight in a short period of time prior to a weigh-in, then
gaining weight back in the 24 hours leading up to a fight, can
also affect the outcome of a fight.
Despite the requirement under current law for contestants to
disclose "significant weight gain or loss and any change in
weight in the seven days prior to the contest", this information
is rarely if ever provided to the Commission. Extreme weight
cutting by combat sport athletes is a problem that the
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Commission has sought to curb, as reported to the Senate
Business, Professions and Economic Committee through the Sunset
Review oversight process. The Commission conducted a study on
over 500 licensees and determined that weight cutting was
prevalent amongst these athletes. As a means of preventing
extreme weight-cutting for combat sports athletes, the
Commission has taken steps to deter this dangerous practice.
The Commission is working on altering its weigh-in procedures
and requirements as well as implementing a progressive
disciplinary system that applies to all licensees, including,
but not limited to, promoters and trainers. The Commission also
recently issued a memorandum created in partnership with the
Association of Ringside Physicians outlining the dangers of
extreme weight-cutting, citing a 2013 study published in the
Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research that found that 39
percent of mixed martial arts fighters were dehydrated at the
time of their events. The Commission memorandum advised
fighters that, among other dangers of cutting their weight and
dehydrating themselves, there are at increased risks of brain
bleeds and concussion. The memorandum also encouraged athletes
not to use extreme methods for making weight such as excessive
heat methods (rubberized suits, steam rooms, saunas), excessive
intense bouts of exercise, vomiting, laxatives and diuretics as
well as not using dehydration as a mainstay of making weight due
to other risks associated with improper rehydration techniques.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified1/19/16)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified1/19/16)
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None received
Prepared by: Sarah Mason / B., P. & E.D. / (916) 651-4104
1/20/16 15:40:02
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