Senate panel advances bill to continue, broaden combative-sports safety law

Senator Erickson urged the committee to continue Colorado's boxing safety law and broaden its scope to reflect the state’s wider combative-sports landscape. "That framework is currently housed in the Colorado Professional Boxing Safety Act, which is set to sunset," Erickson said, explaining the bill would rename and extend the statute and require the office director to gather safety data for consideration when the commission adopts rules.

The bill would change the statute’s name to the Colorado Combative Sports and Safety Act to encompass kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and other increasingly popular disciplines. Erickson told senators the measure would restore licensure language for promoters that was accidentally removed in the House and remove licensure provisions for matchmakers and managers that the sponsor said are not presently applicable.

Two witnesses who worked on the sunset review were present to answer questions. Monica Sutherland, a policy analyst with the Division of Professions and Occupations, said she was in a questions-only capacity. Brian Tobias, director of the Colorado Office of Policy Research and Regulatory Reform, said his office produced the sunset report and would be available to the committee.

The committee considered and adopted amendment L7, offered during the session, and Vice Chair moved the bill as amended to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. There were no recorded objections during the committee action and no further amendments from the sponsor.

The bill now goes to the Committee on Appropriations for further consideration. If approved there, it would be returned to the Senate for second-reading steps according to the legislative calendar.