2018-02-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 1966
SB 179                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 179 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the athletic commission and the                                                                   
          commissioner of athletics; and relating to boxing,                                                                    
          sparring, and wrestling contests, matches, and                                                                        
          exhibitions."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and                                                              
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Commerce, Community and                                                                       
  Economic Development                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 8:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Kelly:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to repealing the athletic                                                       
commission, and requirements for boxing and wrestling to obtain                                                                 
licenses.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2018-02-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 1967
The athletic commission is established in title 5, chapter 5 and consists                                                       
of four members appointed by the governor. However, the commission                                                              
has not been staffed, nor have Commissioners been appointed, since                                                              
1997 when the commission was deactivated by the Governor's Office.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic                                                                             
Development continued to issue licenses for boxing and wrestling                                                                
matches under AS 05.10.010, but in 2002 notified the Alaska Boxing                                                              
Commission that the department had stopped licensing professional                                                               
and club boxers, wrestlers, and events. Since the fees established in                                                           
AS 05.10.120 are insufficient to cover the costs of licensing and                                                               
oversight of boxing and wrestling, and since the program has not been                                                           
funded adequately for a number of years, this bill would repeal this                                                            
unused statute. Currently, there are federal law provisions that apply to                                                       
boxing. Further, under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, the                                                                  
Attorney General, as chief law enforcement officer, could maintain a                                                            
civil action in federal district court to enjoin a professional boxing                                                          
match, enforce compliance with federal law, or obtain fines.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor