HCSHB48--HAND-TO-HANDCOMBAT
SPONSOR: Haley
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonProfessionalRegistrationandLicensingbyavoteof6
to3and2votingPresent.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
48.
ThisbillauthorizestheDivisionofProfessionalRegistration,
withintheDepartmentofCommerceandInsurance,tooversee
professionalbareknucklefightinginMissouri. TheDivisionwill
acceptapplicationsandissuelicensesforcontestantsandlicenses
toholdbareknucklefightingcontests.
TheDivisionmustissuemandatorymedicalsuspensionsfor
contestantswholoseconsciousnessorareinjuredasaresultof
blowsreceivedtotheheadorbody.TheDivisionisalso
prohibitedfromissuinglicensestoparticipateinbareknuckle
fightingiftheindividualhasbeeninjuredinsuchamannerthat
theycannotcontinuetoparticipate. TheDivisionwillhavethe
authoritytopromulgaterulestogovernineveryparticular
professionalbareknucklefighting.
Thisbillalsodecriminalizes thepossessionoftheweaponknownas
knuckles.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2130(2022)andHB1348(2021).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisissaferthanmixedmartial
artsorboxing.Fightersdonothaveconcussionissueslikeboxing
andtherehavebeennofatalities. Thiswouldhelptourismforthe
stateofMissouri.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Haley;and
SamShewmaker.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.