House Bill 1197

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-75-101, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO BET OR WAGER ON ANY MATCH OR EXHIBITION AUTHORIZED BY THE MISSISSIPPI ATHLETIC COMMISSION, EXCEPT AS MAY BE ALLOWED FOR A LAWFUL GAMING ACTIVITY THAT IS REGULATED UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI GAMING CONTROL ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 75-75-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT NO OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE MISSISSIPPI ATHLETIC COMMISSION MAY RECEIVE A SALARY IN AN AMOUNT EXCEEDING THAT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMISSION MAY ACCEPT, BUDGET, RECEIVE OR EXPEND FUNDS FROM ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SOURCE FOR ANY PURPOSE RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES; TO AMEND SECTION 75-75-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 75-75-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-75-101. (1) Boxing, sparring and wrestling matches and exhibitions for percentage of gate receipts where an admission fee is charged are hereby allowed. All boxing, sparring and wrestling matches and exhibitions authorized herein shall be held under the supervision of and subject to the rules and regulations of the Mississippi Athletic Commission, and in strict compliance with the provisions of this article. No person shall bet or wager money or other thing of value upon a match or exhibition authorized under this article, except as may be allowed for a lawful gaming activity that is regulated under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act. No boxing or sparring match or exhibition shall exceed fifteen (15) rounds of three (3) minutes each, and the charge for each seat or ticket shall be left to the discretion of the commission.

SECTION 2. Section 75-75-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-75-107. (1) Each member of the commission shall receive per diem in accordance with Section 25-3-69 and shall be paid traveling expenses while engaged in the performance of his official duties in accordance with Section 25-3-41, including traveling expenses for attending the National Boxing Association Convention. The commissioners may pay all such national affiliation dues as may be existing against the Athletic Commission, as in their discretion, may be necessary, out of the funds collected by the recorder of permits and licenses, and on order and approval of the commission. The chairman of the commission shall be ex officio the recorder of permits and licenses and for his service as such shall receive an annual salary equal in an amount as fixed by the commission; however, the amount of the annual salary paid to any other officer or employee of the commission. The chairman shall not be deemed a state employee for purposes of qualifying for state-funded retirement, group insurance, or other fringe benefits.

SECTION 3. Section 75-75-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-75-111. The commission shall maintain a general office for the transaction of its business at a place to be designated by the chairman. It may fix the salary of its secretary, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board, which salary may not exceed the salary of the chairman of the commission and shall be paid by the recorder of permits and licenses on order and approval of the commission, out of any funds on hand, for which the recorder of permits and licenses is accountable to the State of Mississippi.

(2) For the purposes of this chapter, "tough-man contest" and kickboxing competition shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Athletic Commission.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.