SCR37 SD1 SSCR2992

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2992

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 37

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Business and Economic Development, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 37 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a sunrise analysis of regulating mixed martial arts contests.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Regulated Industries Complaints Office, which are both parts of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Mixed martial arts contests, originally from Brazil, rose to popularity in the early 1990s, and are now sanctioned in at least thirty-nine states. Mixed martial arts contests have been described as a mix of tae kwon do, boxing, wrestling, and judo, and involves a pair of skilled athletes who attempt to inflict physical injury to achieve a knockout or submission of the other opponent. Currently, the State does not regulate mixed martial arts contests. Under section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Auditor is required to conduct a sunrise analysis before new regulatory measures of unregulated professions or vocations are enacted by the Legislature.

Your Committee finds that a sunrise analysis of regulating mixed martial arts contests will be useful in assessing alternative forms of regulation and fee structures that may be applied to this activity. The regulation of mixed martial arts contests will legitimize the sport and recognize its growing popularity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the reference to H.B. No. 3223 and replacing it with H.B. No. 3223, H.D.1 to correctly refer to the latest House draft;

(2) Adding the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to receive a certified copy of this measure because the Director will be charged with implementing the findings and recommendations of the sunrise study; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Business and Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 37, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 37, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Business and Economic Development,

		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair