Nebraska Administrative Code Topic - ATHLETIC COMMISSION
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the Nebraska Administrative Code – Topic: Athletic Commission (Title 38):
🥊 Overview: Title 38 – Athletic Commission
Title 38 of the Nebraska Administrative Code governs the licensing, regulation, and operation of combat sports—boxing, MMA, kickboxing, bare-knuckle boxing, and related events—under the authority of the State Athletic Commissioner. (regulations.justia.com)
📚 Chapters & Content
Chapter 1 – Definitions & Office of the Commissioner
Establishes terms (e.g., “contestant,” “bout,” “referee”) and commissioner powers—jurisdiction over all regulated bouts, ability to suspend/refuse matches, license personnel, enforce rules (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 2 – Requirements for Non‑Contestant Licensees
Details licensing prerequisites and fees for referees, judges, promoters, physicians, matchmakers, managers, timekeepers, seconds, etc. (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 3 – Contestants
Sets standards for professional/amateur participants: medical screening, equipment, prohibited behaviors, drug-testing protocols (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 4 – Event Requirements
Covers permits, bout contracts, insurance/death benefits, ticketing, gross receipt taxes, ring and glove specifications, event announcements (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 5 – Professional Boxing
Implements Unified Rules of Boxing: weigh‑ins, training periods, equipment, officiating/stoppage rules, number and length of rounds (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 6 – Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Adopts Unified Rules of MMA: weight classes, rounds, contestant status, fouls, elimination formats (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 7 – Practice & Procedure
Defines internal processes for hearings, contested cases, enforcement under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Chapter 8 – Bare‑Knuckle Boxing
Outlines unique rules for bare‑knuckle contests: equipment, officiating, stoppages, weight standards (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapter 9 – Professional Kickboxing
Lays out Unified Rules of Kickboxing: rounds, weigh‑ins, equipment requirements (athcomm.nebraska.gov).
Chapters 10–24 – Repealed
Previously reserved chapters are now repealed (law.cornell.edu).
👤 Commissioner & Statutory Authority
Appointment & Control:
The State Athletic Commissioner is gubernatorially appointed for a two‑year term and operates under the Department of Revenue’s Charitable Gaming Division (codes.findlaw.com).
Authority:
Exercises sole jurisdiction over regulated combat sports events (except those by educational or military institutions with participants under 16) (regulations.justia.com).
Licenses & Bonds:
Issued to promoters, licensees, and officials with bond requirements ($1,000 for amateur events; ≥ $5,000 for professional) (athcomm.nebraska.gov). Referee fee caps: $10–40/year; promoter license fees range $100–300 (per LB 635 updates) (nebraskalegislature.gov).
⚖️ Recent Update: LB 635 (approved May 13, 2025)
Expansion of Regulated Sports: Incorporates professional bare-knuckle MMA, MMA on ice, muay thai (pro/amateur), and amateur kickboxing into commissioner oversight (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Clarifies Bond & Fees: Codifies bond requirements and licensing fees consistent with updated practice .
Repealed/Amended Sections: S 81‑8‑129 through 81‑8‑139 updated to streamline commissioner rule-making and enforcement authority (nebraskalegislature.gov).
🏛️ Historical Context
Commission Established in 1957: Under LB 237 (Sen. Charles Tvrdik), initially to regulate boxing. ◦ Expanded oversight to MMA (2007), bare-knuckle and kickboxing (2021) (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Advisory Committee Disbanded (2013): LB 78 dissolved the Commission’s advisory board; rule oversight fully vested in the Commissioner and AP procedures (nebraskalegislature.gov).
✅ Summary
Title 38 grants Nebraska's State Athletic Commissioner comprehensive authority to regulate all aspects of professional and amateur combat sports: licensing participants and officials, ensuring health/safety, sanctioning events, imposing financial oversight, and enforcing unified rules. LB 635 (May 2025) expanded the regulatory purview to include emerging combat sports formats and updated licensing frameworks.
RELATED Blog
0 comments