The bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the New Mexico Athletic Commission by transferring its authority to the Regulation and Licensing Department and expanding its membership from five to seven members. The new composition will include two individuals with experience in promoting sporting events or as contestants, a licensed attorney, a licensed medical professional, and three public representatives. The bill also allows for the formation of committees, mandates the establishment of a medical advisory committee, and eliminates the existing medical advisory board. Furthermore, it introduces new licensing categories, amends the fee structure associated with the Athletic Commission Fund, and grants the department sole jurisdiction over unarmed combat contests, including the approval of sanctioning organizations.

In addition to these structural changes, the bill amends several sections of the Professional Athletic Competition Act, particularly concerning the commission's roles and responsibilities. It replaces the term "executive secretary" with "chair" regarding the authority to withhold a portion of a contestant's purse for dishonest competition. The bill also stipulates that commission members present at a fight will have no authority during the event and limits professional boxing contests to twelve rounds, each lasting no more than three minutes. New provisions for declaring state champions in professional boxing are introduced, requiring title defenses within specified timeframes. The bill appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to support the administration of the act and repeals outdated sections of the law, aiming to enhance oversight and enforcement within the industry.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 60-2A-2, 60-2A-3, 60-2A-4, 60-2A-8.2, 60-2A-9, 60-2A-10, 60-2A-11, 60-2A-12, 60-2A-13, 60-2A-14, 60-2A-15, 60-2A-19, 60-2A-20, 60-2A-21, 60-2A-24, 60-2A-29, 60-2A-31, 60-2A-32, 60-2A-34, 60-2A-36