District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0959 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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12	12	Statement of Introduction
13	13	Theatrical Wrestling Regulation Amendment Act of 2024
14	14	September 23, 2024
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16	16	Today, I am introducing the “Theatrical Wrestling Regulation Amendment Act of
17	17	2024”. The independent “pro” wrestling scene has a storied history in the District –
18	18	especially as a way of creating spaces of cultural and community importance, by and for
19	19	Black, Latino, and LGBTQ wrestlers and spectators.
20	20	These wrestling exhibitions are much closer to theater performance than a sport like
21	21	boxing – pro wrestling match outcomes are usually pre-determined or non-competitive and
22	22	moves are choreographed in advance. However, a small independent wrestling event and a
23	23	title fight in Capital One Area are both subject to the same set of laws and regulations
24	24	administered by the Combat Sports Commission.
25	25	Unfortunately, D.C.’s tight regulatory environment and extremely high costs have
26	26	driven nearly all of small pro wrestling events to Maryland and Virginia.
27	27	Wrestling regulation reform is a current focus of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on
28	28	LGBTQ Affairs. In the lead-up to World Pride, there is a strong interest in putting on events
29	29	during the festival and bringing the scene back to the District permanently.
30	30	This legislation defines “theatrical wrestling” as its own class of event (limited to
31	31	smaller venues) and reduce the burdens that have made it close to impossible to put these
32	32	events on in the District. It is in line with legislation recently passed in Washington
33	33	State and Louisiana, and longstanding policy in states like Missouri and Virginia.
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36	36	_____________________________
37	37	Councilmember Zachary Parker
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39	39	_____________________________
40	40	Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
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42	42	Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
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47	47	A BILL
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51	51	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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56	56	To amend the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act of 1975 to clarify exemptions, 1
57	57	including theatrical wrestling events. 2
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59	59	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 4
60	60	act may be cited as the “Theatrical Wrestling Regulation Amendment Act of 2024”. 5
61	61	Sec. 2. The Boxing and Wrestling Commission Act of 1975, effective October 8, 1975 6
62	62	(D.C. Official Code § 3-601 et seq., D.C. Law 1-20) is amended to read as follows: 7
63	63	(a) Section 3 is amended as follows: 8
64	64	(1) Existing paragraph (1) is designated (1B). 9
65	65	(2) A new paragraph (1A) is added to read as follows: 10
66	66	“(1A) “Amateur” means an individual who has never participated in a boxing, martial 11
67	67	arts, or professional wrestling event for money, compensation, or reward other than a suitably 12
68	68	inscribed memento.”. 13
69	69	(3) A new paragraph (8A) is added to read as follows: 14
70	70	“(8A) “Theatrical wrestling” means the performance of sports entertainment in which: 15 2
71	71	“(A) Two or more participants work together in a performance of mock combat 16
72	72	for the purpose of entertainment; 17
73	73	“(B)(i) The outcome is predetermined; 18
74	74	“(ii) performance is choreographed in advance; 19
75	75	“(iii) is noncompetitive; or, 20
76	76	“(iv) participants do not necessarily strive to win; and, 21
77	77	“(C) Takes place in a venue with a total audience capacity of fewer than 2,000 22
78	78	attendees, or as part of a festival or other special event.”. 23
79	79	(b) Section 6(b) is amended to read as follows: 24
80	80	“(b) The provisions of this act shall not apply to: 25
81	81	“(1) Amateur wrestling bouts; 26
82	82	“(2) Amateur exhibitions and the amateur participants therein; 27
83	83	“(3) Engagements involving amateur martial arts that are conducted by or held 28
84	84	under the sponsorship any elementary or secondary school or public or private institution of 29
85	85	higher education located in the District of Columbia; 30
86	86	“(4) Amateur boxing; and, 31
87	87	“(5) Theatrical wrestling events.”. 32
88	88	Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 33
89	89	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 34
90	90	impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 35
91	91	approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 36
92	92	Sec. 4. Effective date. 37
93	93	This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 38
94	94	Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 39 3
95	95	provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 40
96	96	24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 41
97	97	Columbia Register. 42