RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, mixed martial arts contests originated in Brazil in the early 1900s, rose to popularity in the United States in the early l990s, and are now sanctioned in at least thirty-nine states; and

WHEREAS, the definition of a mixed martial arts contest is not clearly defined, and has been described as a mix of tae kwon do, boxing, wrestling, and judo, and involves a pair of skilled athletes who attempt to inflict the most physical injury in order to obtain a knockout, technical knockout, or submission of the other opponent; and

WHEREAS, mixed martial arts contests are sometimes confused with toughman contests, which are "no holds barred", or "no rules" contests and are banned in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, mixed martial arts is a full contact sport with inherent dangers, and regulation of the sport would protect the health, safety, and welfare of the participants; and

WHEREAS, the regulation of mixed martial arts contests would legitimize the sport and recognize its growing popularity; and

WHEREAS, section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that "[n]ew regulatory measures being considered for enactment that, if enacted, would subject unregulated professions and vocations to licensing or other regulatory controls shall be referred to the auditor for analysis"; and

WHEREAS, H.B. No. 3223, introduced during the 2006 Regular Session, proposes to regulate mixed martial arts contests; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to perform a sunrise review of the regulation of mixed martial arts contests; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor.

Report Title:

Auditor; Martial Arts