STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3015

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2170

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2170, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMBAT SPORTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a regulatory framework for combat sports contests to replace the regulatory frameworks for boxing contests and mixed martial arts contests.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Renames the State Boxing Commission as the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii;

(2) Clarifies the scope, makeup, powers, duties, and jurisdiction of the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii;

(3) Establishes a regulatory framework for professional combat sports contests;

(4) Repeals Chapter 440E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which regulated mixed martial arts contests; and

(5) Appropriates moneys to fund an unspecified number of full-time equivalent positions within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that regulating, and establishing a commission to oversee, combat sports contests in the State will help to protect the safety and well-being of combat sports athletes while promoting the professional combat sports industry in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2170, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair