HB 252

                                1  HOUSE BILL 252
                                2     57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Art De La Cruz and Antonio Maestas
                                5
                                6
                                7
                                8
                                9
                                10  AN ACT
                                11   RELATING TO ATHLETIC COMPETITION; TRANSFERRING NEW MEXICO
                                12   ATHLETIC COMMISSION AUTHORITY TO THE REGULATION AND LICENSING
                                13   DEPARTMENT; EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF COMMISSION MEMBERS;
                                14   CHANGING COMMISSION COMPOSITION; PERMITTING THE FORMATION OF
                                15   COMMITTEES; ELIMINATING THE MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD; ADDING
                                16   LICENSING CATEGORIES; ELIMINATING PENALTIES; AMENDING THE TYPES
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                                17   OF FEES DEDICATED TO THE ATHLETIC COMMISSION FUND; AMENDING AND
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                                18   REPEALING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
                                19
                                20   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
                                21        SECTION 1.     Section 60-2A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                22   Chapter 90, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
                                23        "60-2A-2.     DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Professional
                                24   Athletic Competition Act:
                                25  [A.    "board" means the medical advisory board;
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                                1  B.] A.    "closed circuit telecast" means a telecast
                                2    that is not intended to be available for viewing without the
                                3    payment of a fee, including a pay-per-view telecast, podcast,
                                4    webcast, streaming media or any electronic transmission to an
                                5    arena, bar, lounge, club, entertainment or meeting center or
                                6    private residence;
                                7  [C.] B.     "commission" means the New Mexico athletic
                                8    commission;
                                9  [D.] C.     "contestant" means a person who engages in
                                10   unarmed combat for remuneration;
                                11  [E.] D.     "department" means the regulation and
                                12   licensing department;
                                13  E.   "event coordinator" means a person who oversees
                                14   the detailed requirements of the Professional Athletic
                                15   Competition Act on behalf of the commission before, during and
                                16   after an exhibition;
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                                17  F.   "exhibition" means any contest or portion of a
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                                18   fight card, bout or event in any form of unarmed combat
                                19   regulated by the commission [and conducted, held or televised
                                20   on a closed circuit telecast originating in New Mexico];
                                21  G.   "foreign co-promoter" means a promoter who has
                                22   no place of business in this state;
                                23  H.   "manager":
                                24  (1)    means a person who:
                                25  (a)   undertakes to represent the
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                                1    interests of another person by contract, agreement or other
                                2    arrangement in procuring, arranging or conducting a
                                3    professional contest or exhibition in which the represented
                                4    person will participate as a contestant;
                                5  (b)   directs or controls the activities
                                6    of an unarmed combatant relating to the participation of the
                                7    unarmed combatant in professional contests or exhibitions;
                                8  (c)   receives or is entitled to receive
                                9    at least ten percent of the gross purse or gross income of any
                                10   professional unarmed combatant for services relating to the
                                11   participation of the unarmed combatant in a professional
                                12   contest or exhibition; or
                                13  (d)   receives compensation for services
                                14   as an agent or representative of an unarmed combatant; and
                                15  (2)   does not include an attorney who is
                                16   licensed to practice law in this state if the attorney's
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                                17   participation in any of the activities described in Paragraph
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                                18   (1) of this subsection is limited solely to the legal
                                19   representation of a client who is an unarmed combatant;
                                20  I.   "professional boxer" means an individual who
                                21   competes for money, prizes or purses or who teaches, pursues or
                                22   assists in the practice of boxing as a means of obtaining a
                                23   livelihood or pecuniary gain;
                                24  J.   "professional contest" means any professional
                                25   boxing, professional kickboxing, professional martial arts,
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                                1    professional mixed martial arts or sports entertainment
                                2    wrestling contest or exhibition, whether or not an admission
                                3    fee is charged for admission of the public;
                                4  K.   "professional kickboxer" means an individual who
                                5    competes for money, prizes or purses or who teaches, pursues or
                                6    assists in the practice of kickboxing as a means of obtaining a
                                7    livelihood or pecuniary gain;
                                8  L.   "professional martial artist" means an
                                9    individual who competes for money, prizes or purses or who
                                10   teaches, pursues or assists in the practice of martial arts as
                                11   a means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain;
                                12  M.   "professional mixed martial artist" means an
                                13   individual who competes for money, prizes or purses or who
                                14   teaches, pursues or assists in the practice of mixed martial
                                15   arts as a means of obtaining a livelihood or pecuniary gain;
                                16  N.   "promoter" means any person, and in the case of
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                                17   a corporate promoter includes any officer, director or
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                                18   stockholder of the corporation, who produces or stages any
                                19   professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional
                                20   martial arts, professional mixed martial arts or sports
                                21   entertainment wrestling contest, exhibition, [or closed circuit
                                22   television show] telecast or webcast;
                                23  O.   "purse" means the financial guarantee or any
                                24   other remuneration, or part thereof, for which professional
                                25   boxers, professional kickboxers, professional martial artists,
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                                1    professional mixed martial artists or sports entertainment
                                2    wrestlers are participating in a contest or exhibition and
                                3    includes the participant's share of any payment received for
                                4    radio broadcasting, television or motion picture rights;
                                5  P.   "resident" means a person who is domiciled in
                                6    the state during any part of the year or a person who is
                                7    physically present in the state for one hundred eighty-five
                                8    days or more during a taxable year;
                                9  [P.] Q.   "ring official" means any person who
                                10   performs an official function during the progress of a contest
                                11   or exhibition;
                                12  R.   "sanctioning organization" means an organization
                                13   whose rules for a particular unarmed combat contest are
                                14   recognized by the commission;
                                15  [Q.] S.   "sports entertainment wrestler" means an
                                16   individual who competes for money, prizes or purses or who
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                                17   teaches, pursues or assists in the practice of sports
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                                18   entertainment wrestling as a means of obtaining a livelihood or
                                19   pecuniary gain;
                                20  [R.] T.   "sports entertainment wrestling" means an
                                21   activity in which participants struggle hand-to-hand primarily
                                22   for the purpose of providing entertainment to spectators rather
                                23   than conducting a bona fide athletic contest;
                                24  [S.] U.   "unarmed combat" means boxing, kickboxing,
                                25   martial arts, mixed martial arts, competitive wrestling, sports
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                                1    entertainment wrestling or any form of competition in which a
                                2    blow is usually struck that may reasonably be expected to
                                3    inflict injury; and
                                4  [T.] V.      "unarmed combatant" means:
                                5  (1)    a person who engages in unarmed combat in
                                6    a contest or exhibition, whether or not the person receives
                                7    remuneration, including a boxer, kickboxer, martial artist,
                                8    mixed martial artist, competitive wrestler, sports
                                9    entertainment wrestler or other contestant; or
                                10  (2)    an amateur boxer who is registered with
                                11   United States amateur boxing, incorporated, or any other
                                12   amateur organization recognized by the commission and
                                13   participates in an amateur boxing contest or exhibition in the
                                14   state that is registered and sanctioned by United States
                                15   amateur boxing, incorporated, or golden gloves of America."
                                16        SECTION 2.     Section 60-2A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
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                                17   Chapter 90, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
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                                18        "60-2A-3.     COMMISSION CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--TERMS--
                                19   RESTRICTIONS.--
                                20  A.   There is created the "New Mexico athletic
                                21   commission".     The commission [shall be] is administratively
                                22   attached to the department.
                                23  B.   The commission shall [consist of five members
                                24   who are New Mexico residents and who are appointed by the
                                25   governor.   Three of the members shall have experience in the
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                                1    professional sports and the other two members shall represent
                                2    the public.      The public members shall not have been licensed or
                                3    have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the
                                4    profession regulated.      The members shall be appointed for
                                5    staggered terms of four years each.      Each member shall hold
                                6    office until the expiration of the term for which appointed or
                                7    until a successor has been appointed.      Not more than three
                                8    members of the commission shall be appointed from the same
                                9    political party.     No commission member shall serve more than
                                10   two full terms consecutively.
                                11  C.    No member shall at any time during his
                                12   membership on the commission promote or sponsor any
                                13   professional contest or have any financial interest in the
                                14   promotion or sponsorship of any professional contest] advise
                                15   the department, the legislature and the governor to promote the
                                16   growth of unarmed combat sports in New Mexico.
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                                17  C.    The commission consists of seven members who are
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                                18   New Mexico residents and who are appointed by the governor.
                                19   Two members shall have experience promoting sporting events or
                                20   shall have participated in unarmed combat sporting events as
                                21   contestants.      One member shall be a New Mexico-licensed
                                22   attorney.     One member shall be a licensed medical professional.
                                23   The other three members shall represent the public.        The
                                24   members shall not be licensed or have a financial interest,
                                25   direct or indirect, in the profession regulated by the
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                                1    commission.       The members shall be appointed for staggered terms
                                2    of four years each.       Each member shall hold office until the
                                3    expiration of the term for which that member was appointed or
                                4    until a successor has been appointed.       No more than four
                                5    members of the commission shall be appointed from the same
                                6    political party."
                                7  SECTION 3.    Section 60-2A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                8    Chapter 90, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:
                                9  "60-2A-4.    [CHAIRMAN] CHAIR--RULES--DUTIES--COMMITTEES.--
                                10  A.     The commission shall elect annually in December
                                11   a [chairman] chair and such other officers as it deems
                                12   necessary.    The commission shall meet as often as necessary for
                                13   the conduct of business, but no less than twice a year.
                                14   Meetings shall be called by the [chairman] chair or upon the
                                15   written request of three or more members of the commission.
                                16   [Three] Four members, at least one of whom is a public member,
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                                17   shall constitute a quorum.
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                                18  B.     The commission may adopt, purchase and use a
                                19   seal.
                                20  C.     The commission may [adopt] recommend rules to be
                                21   adopted by the department, subject to the provisions of the
                                22   State Rules Act, for the administration of the Professional
                                23   Athletic Competition Act not inconsistent with the provisions
                                24   of the Professional Athletic Competition Act.       The rules shall
                                25   include [but not be limited to the:
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                                1  (1)    number and qualifications of ring
                                2    officials required in a professional contest;
                                3  (2)    powers, duties and compensation of ring
                                4    officials; and
                                5  (3)    qualifications of licensees] the
                                6    qualifications for licensees.
                                7  D.   The commission [shall prepare all forms of
                                8    contracts between sponsors, licensees, promoters and
                                9    contestants] may establish committees as the commission deems
                                10   necessary to fulfill its duties.       Committees may include other
                                11   public members, but all committees shall be chaired by a member
                                12   of the commission.        The public members of a committee shall
                                13   serve without compensation."
                                14  SECTION 4.    Section 60-2A-8.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007,
                                15   Chapter 109, Section 2) is amended to read:
                                16  "60-2A-8.2.    JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION OVER UNARMED
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                                17   COMBAT CONTESTS--APPROVAL OF SANCTIONING ORGANIZATIONS.--
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                                18  A.   The commission shall have sole direction,
                                19   management, control and jurisdiction over all contests or
                                20   exhibitions of unarmed combat to be conducted, held or given
                                21   within New Mexico, and no contest or exhibition may be
                                22   conducted, held or given within the state except in accordance
                                23   with the provisions of the Professional Athletic Competition
                                24   Act.
                                25  B.   The commission may approve one or more
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                                1    sanctioning organization for professional or amateur unarmed
                                2    combat.   A sanctioning organization approved by the commission
                                3    shall report to the commission the results of all contests or
                                4    exhibitions sanctioned by the sanctioning organization.
                                5  [B.] C.   Any contest involving a form of [Oriental]
                                6    unarmed [self-defense] combat must be conducted pursuant to
                                7    rules for that form that are approved by the commission before
                                8    the contest is conducted, held or given in the state except in
                                9    accordance with the provisions of the Professional Athletic
                                10   Competition Act."
                                11        SECTION 5.     Section 60-2A-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                12   Chapter 90, Section 9) is amended to read:
                                13        "60-2A-9.    LICENSES TO CONDUCT PROFESSIONAL CONTESTS.--
                                14  A.   The [commission] department may issue licenses
                                15   to conduct, hold or give a professional contest to any promoter
                                16   under such terms and in accordance with such rules as the
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                                17   commission may adopt.
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                                18  B.   Any application for [such] a license shall be in
                                19   writing and shall correctly show the promoter.    The application
                                20   shall be accompanied by the annual fee prescribed by law.
                                21  C.   Before any license is granted to a promoter, the
                                22   promoter must file a bond in an amount fixed by the commission
                                23   but not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) with good and
                                24   sufficient surety and conditioned for the faithful performance
                                25   by the promoter of the provisions of the Professional Athletic
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                                1    Competition Act."
                                2  SECTION 6.     Section 60-2A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                3    Chapter 90, Section 10, as amended) is amended to read:
                                4  "60-2A-10.     LICENSES FOR PROMOTERS, BOXERS, TRAINERS, RING
                                5    OFFICIALS AND OTHERS.--
                                6  A.   All promoters, foreign co-promoters,
                                7    matchmakers, professional boxers, professional kickboxers,
                                8    professional martial artists, professional mixed martial
                                9    artists, sports entertainment wrestlers, managers, seconds,
                                10   announcers, referees, trainers, booking agents, event
                                11   coordinators and timekeepers shall be licensed by the
                                12   [commission] department.
                                13  B.   No person shall be permitted to participate
                                14   either directly or indirectly in any professional contest
                                15   unless the person has first procured a license from the
                                16   [commission.
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                                17  C.   Any person violating the provisions of this
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                                18   section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor] department."
                                19        SECTION 7.     Section 60-2A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                20   Chapter 90, Section 11) is amended to read:
                                21        "60-2A-11.     LICENSES FOR [PHYSICIANS] MEDICAL
                                22   PROFESSIONALS.--The [commission] department may issue licenses
                                23   without fees to [physicians] medical professionals, authorizing
                                24   them to [officiate] monitor and evaluate participants and
                                25   confer with the referee and commissioner when necessary at
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                                1    professional contests."
                                2  SECTION 8.    Section 60-2A-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                3    Chapter 90, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
                                4  "60-2A-12.    LICENSE FEES.--
                                5  A.   The annual license fee shall not exceed the
                                6    following amounts:
                                7  (1)    promoters . . . . . . . . . . . . $500.00
                                8  (2)    foreign co-promoters . . . . . . .   750.00
                                9  (3)    referees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
                                10  (4)    timekeepers and announcers . . . . . 75.00
                                11  (5)    seconds and trainers . . . . . . . . 75.00
                                12  (6)    managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
                                13  (7)    professional boxers . . . . . . . . 75.00
                                14  (8)    professional kickboxers . . . . . . 75.00
                                15  (9)    booking agents . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
                                16  (10)   matchmakers . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
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                                17  (11)   judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
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                                18  (12)   professional mixed martial artists    75.00
                                19  (13)   amateur mixed martial artists . . . 75.00
                                20  (14)   professional martial artists . . . 75.00
                                21  (15)   sports entertainment wrestlers . . 75.00
                                22  (16)   event coordinators . . . . . . .     75.00.
                                23        Every license shall expire [at midnight on December 31 of
                                24   the year in which the license is issued] one year from the date
                                25   of issuance of the license.
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                                1  B.   An unarmed combatant may hold a professional
                                2    license in one [commission] licensing category while
                                3    maintaining amateur status in other unarmed combat
                                4    disciplines."
                                5  SECTION 9.    Section 60-2A-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                6    Chapter 90, Section 13) is amended to read:
                                7  "60-2A-13.    REAL PARTY IN INTEREST.--The [commission]
                                8    department shall not issue [any] a license for a professional
                                9    contest unless it is satisfied that the promoter is the real
                                10   party in interest and intends to conduct, hold or give [such
                                11   contests himself] the contest or unless the promoter receives
                                12   at least twenty-five percent of the net receipts.      A license
                                13   may be revoked at any time if the [commission] department finds
                                14   that the promoter is not the real party in interest."
                                15        SECTION 10.    Section 60-2A-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                16   Chapter 90, Section 14, as amended) is amended to read:
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                                17        "60-2A-14.    SUSPENSION--REVOCATION OF LICENSES.--
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                                18  A.   The commission may suspend or revoke [any] a
                                19   license when in its judgment the licensee:
                                20  (1)   participated in [any] a sham or fake
                                21   professional contest;
                                22  (2)   is guilty of a failure to give [his] the
                                23   licensee's best efforts in a professional contest;
                                24  (3)   is guilty of [any] a foul or
                                25   unsportsmanlike conduct in connection with a professional
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                                1    contest; or
                                2  (4)   is guilty of participating in an event
                                3    while under the influence of illegal drugs.
                                4  B.   Before revocation of a license, the commission
                                5    shall afford the licensee opportunity for a hearing, and upon
                                6    request of the licensee and after reasonable notice, the
                                7    commission shall conduct a hearing on the revocation,
                                8    permitting the licensee to appear personally and by counsel,
                                9    introduce evidence and examine and cross-examine witnesses.
                                10  C.   A majority vote of the members of the commission
                                11   is required to revoke a license.    The commission shall file a
                                12   written report of its findings, determinations and order with
                                13   the record of the proceedings and shall send a copy [thereof]
                                14   of the report to the licensee."
                                15        SECTION 11.    Section 60-2A-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                16   Chapter 90, Section 16, as amended) is amended to read:
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                                17        "60-2A-16.    CONTRACTS.--
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                                18  A.   Every professional boxer, professional
                                19   kickboxer, professional martial artist, professional mixed
                                20   martial artist or sports entertainment wrestler competing in a
                                21   professional contest is entitled to receive a copy of a written
                                22   contract or agreement, approved as to form by the commission,
                                23   binding a licensee to pay the professional boxer, professional
                                24   kickboxer, professional martial artist, professional mixed
                                25   martial artist or sports entertainment wrestler a certain fixed
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                                1    fee or percentage of the gate receipts.
                                2  B.   One copy of the contract or agreement shall be
                                3    filed with the executive [secretary] director of the
                                4    commission, and one copy shall be retained by the licensee or
                                5    promoter of the professional contest."
                                6  SECTION 12.    Section 60-2A-19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                7    Chapter 90, Section 19, as amended) is amended to read:
                                8  "60-2A-19.    WITHHOLDING OF PURSE.--
                                9  A.   The commission or its executive [secretary]
                                10   director may order a promoter to withhold a part of a purse or
                                11   other funds belonging or payable to a contestant, manager or
                                12   second if, in the judgment of the commission or the executive
                                13   [secretary] director, the contestant is not competing honestly
                                14   or to the best of the contestant's skill and ability or if the
                                15   manager or second has violated any of the provisions of the
                                16   Professional Athletic Competition Act or a rule promulgated
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                                17   [under] pursuant to that act.
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                                18  B.   This section does not apply to any sports
                                19   entertainment wrestler who appears not to be competing honestly
                                20   or to the best of the wrestler's skill and ability.
                                21  C.   Upon the withholding of a part of a purse
                                22   pursuant to this section, the commission shall immediately
                                23   schedule a hearing on the matter as promptly as possible.      If
                                24   it is determined that the contestant, manager or second is not
                                25   entitled to a part of a share of the purse or other funds, the
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                                1    promoter shall turn that money over to the commission, and it
                                2    shall become forfeit to the state and be disposed of as are
                                3    fees."
                                4  SECTION 13.     Section 60-2A-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                5    Chapter 90, Section 20) is amended to read:
                                6  "60-2A-20.     ATTENDANCE AT WEIGH-INS--MEDICAL
                                7    EXAMINATIONS--PROFESSIONAL CONTESTS.--
                                8  A.   The executive [secretary or] director and a
                                9    member of the commission shall be present at all weigh-ins
                                10   [medical examinations] and professional contests.      [and] The
                                11   executive director shall see that the provisions of the
                                12   Professional Athletic Competition Act and the rules made
                                13   pursuant [thereto] to that act are strictly enforced in
                                14   consultation with an assigned commissioner.
                                15  B.   Every [participant] contestant in a professional
                                16   [boxing] contest shall be present and weighed in no later than
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                                17   twelve o'clock noon on the day of the professional contest."
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                                18        SECTION 14.     Section 60-2A-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                19   Chapter 90, Section 21, as amended) is amended to read:
                                20        "60-2A-21.     LENGTH OF PROFESSIONAL CONTESTS--ROUNDS.--No
                                21   professional boxing contest shall be more than [fifteen] twelve
                                22   rounds in length, and each round shall not exceed three minutes
                                23   in length.    There shall be a one-minute rest between boxing
                                24   rounds.     The commission shall adopt rules governing the length
                                25   of professional kickboxing, professional martial arts,
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                                1    professional mixed martial arts and [sports entertainment]
                                2    competitive wrestling contests; the duration of rounds; and the
                                3    period of rest between rounds."
                                4  SECTION 15.    Section 60-2A-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                5    Chapter 90, Section 24, as amended) is amended to read:
                                6  "60-2A-24.    ATHLETIC COMMISSION FUND.--The proceeds of
                                7    [the regulatory fee on promotions and of the supervisory fee on
                                8    closed-circuit television or motion pictures, together with
                                9    any] license fees [or other fees] authorized pursuant to the
                                10   Professional Athletic Competition Act shall be deposited with
                                11   the state treasurer to the credit of the "athletic commission
                                12   fund", which is hereby created.   Money in the fund is subject
                                13   to appropriation by the legislature.   Expenditures from the
                                14   athletic commission fund shall only be made on vouchers issued
                                15   and signed by the person designated by the [commission]
                                16   department upon warrants drawn by the department of finance and
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                                17   administration in accordance with the budget approved by the
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                                18   department of finance and administration."
                                19        SECTION 16.    Section 60-2A-29 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980,
                                20   Chapter 90, Section 29) is amended to read:
                                21        "60-2A-29.    PENALTY.--[Any] A person [violating] who
                                22   violates the provisions of the Professional Athletic
                                23   Competition Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
                                24   [therefor] shall be punished, in the discretion of the court,
                                25   by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by
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                                1    imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed three months or
                                2    by both such fine and imprisonment."
                                3  SECTION 17.     Section 60-2A-31 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981,
                                4    Chapter 327, Section 1) is amended to read:
                                5  "60-2A-31.     BOXING HEADGEAR REQUIRED WHEN UNDER FIFTEEN
                                6    YEARS OF AGE [PENALTY].--[A.] It is unlawful for any person to
                                7    permit, promote or sponsor any person under the age of fifteen
                                8    years to train as a boxer, engage in boxing matches or compete
                                9    in school boxing exhibitions or events without wearing
                                10   protective headgear.
                                11  [B.    Any person violating the provisions of
                                12   Subsection A of this section is guilty of a petty
                                13   misdemeanor.]"
                                14        SECTION 18.     Section 60-2A-32 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1983,
                                15   Chapter 146, Section 1) is amended to read:
                                16        "60-2A-32.     PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR REQUIRED IN ALL AMATEUR
[bracketed material] = delete
                                17   BOXING.--
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                                18  A.    It is unlawful for any person to permit, sponsor
                                19   or promote any amateur to train as a boxer, engage in boxing
                                20   matches or compete in boxing events without wearing protective
                                21   headgear meeting the standards approved under the official
                                22   rules of [the] USA [amateur] boxing, [federation] incorporated.
                                23  B.    [Any] A person [violating] who violates the
                                24   provisions of Subsection A of this section is guilty of a
                                25   misdemeanor."
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                                1  SECTION 19.    Section 60-2A-34 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2017,
                                2    Chapter 52, Section 1) is amended to read:
                                3  "60-2A-34.    UNLICENSED ACTIVITY--DISCIPLINARY
                                4    PROCEEDINGS--CIVIL PENALTY.--A person who is not licensed to
                                5    engage in a professional athletic competition activity
                                6    regulated by the [board] commission is subject to disciplinary
                                7    proceedings by the [board] commission as provided in the
                                8    Uniform Licensing Act.    The provisions of Section 61-1-3.2 NMSA
                                9    1978 notwithstanding, the [board] commission may impose a civil
                                10   penalty in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars
                                11   ($2,000) against a person who engages in a professional
                                12   athletic competition activity regulated by the [board]
                                13   commission without a license.    In addition, the [board]
                                14   commission may assess the person for administrative costs,
                                15   including investigative costs and the cost of conducting a
                                16   hearing."
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                                17        SECTION 20.    Section 60-2A-36 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2024,
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                                18   Chapter 30, Section 10) is amended to read:
                                19        "60-2A-36.    PROFESSIONAL BOXING STATE CHAMPIONS AND
                                20   RANKED CONTENDERS.--
                                21  A.   The commission shall declare a state champion
                                22   professional boxer in each weight class.
                                23  B.   At least two times per year, the commission
                                24   shall publish a list of professional boxing top ten ranked
                                25   contenders in each weight class.
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                                1  C.   The professional boxing state champion shall
                                2    defend the championship title within six months of winning the
                                3    title and every six months thereafter against a challenger in
                                4    the champion's own weight class.    If the champion does not
                                5    defend the title or cannot defend the title for physical
                                6    reasons that are permanent, the commission shall forfeit the
                                7    championship and declare the title vacant.    In the case of a
                                8    champion not defending a title within six months due to illness
                                9    or injury that is not permanent, the champion shall submit to
                                10   the commission a physician's report describing the illness or
                                11   injury and an estimated time when the champion will be able to
                                12   defend the championship title.     It [will] shall be at the
                                13   discretion of the commission, after considering the physician's
                                14   report, whether a stay of the six-month title defense
                                15   requirement [will] shall be permitted."
                                16        SECTION 21.    APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars
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                                17   ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
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                                18   regulation and licensing department for expenditure in fiscal
                                19   year 2027 to fund full-time employees to administer the
                                20   Professional Athletic Competition Act.    Any unexpended balance
                                21   remaining at the end of fiscal year 2027 shall revert to the
                                22   general fund.
                                23        SECTION 22.    REPEAL.--Sections 60-2A-7, 60-2A-23 and
                                24   60-2A-25 through 60-2A-28 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980, Chapter
                                25   90, Sections 7, 23 and 25 through 28, as amended) are repealed.
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