Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 192.11(2)(b)

(3) Qualifications. In accordance with s. 444.095 (3), Stats., the department shall determine whether an applicant possesses the knowledge and experience necessary to hold a license as a referee by reviewing one or more of the following:

(a) A certificate of completion of a referee’s training program from another state, other regulating bodies such as the Association of Boxing Commissions, and other organizations that have a referee’s training program certified by the Association of Boxing Commissions or another association recognized by the department.

(b) A resume with 3 professional references that can verify the number of years of experience as a referee along with a log of experience.

(d)

1. A passing grade on an examination administered by the department that tests the examinee’s knowledge, and successful completion of the trial referee program under subd. 2.

2. The trial referee program administered and supervised by the commissioner, inspector, or department representative shall consist of all of the following:

a. Observing unarmed combat sports events.

b. Officiating, on a trial basis, as a referee during an unarmed combat sports event under the supervision of the commissioner, inspector, or department representative.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.09 Ringside physician’s license.

(1) Application. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a ringside physician at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow the applicant to request a license term of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months.

Note: Applications are available from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Professional Credentialing, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708, or from the department’s website at: http://dsps.wi.gov.

(2) Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for a license as a ringside physician, an applicant shall hold a license to practice medicine in this state issued under ch. 448, Stats.

(b) The department may deny a license to an applicant who has committed any act that would, if committed by a licensee, subject the applicant to discipline under subch. IX.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.10 Second’s license.

(1) Application. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a second at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow the applicant to request a license term of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months.

(2) Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for a license as a second, an applicant shall be at least 16 years of age.

(b) The department may deny a license to an applicant who has committed any act that would, if committed by a licensee, subject the applicant to discipline under subch. IX.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.11 Timekeeper’s license.

(1) Application. A person shall submit an application on forms provided by the department together with the fee specified in s. 444.11, Stats., prior to acting as a timekeeper at any unarmed combat sports event. The application form shall allow the applicant to request a license term of 12, 24, 36, 48, or 60 months.

(2) Eligibility.

(a) To be eligible for a license as a timekeeper, an applicant shall be at least 18 years of age.

(b) The department may deny a license to an applicant who has committed any act that would, if committed by a licensee, subject the applicant to discipline under subch. IX.

(3) Qualifications. In accordance with s. 444.095 (3), Stats., the department may determine whether a person possesses the knowledge and experience necessary to hold a license as a timekeeper by successful completion of the trial timekeeper program. The trial timekeeper program administered and supervised by the commissioner, inspector, or department representative may consist of any of the following:

(a) Observing unarmed combat sports events.

(b) Shadowing a licensed timekeeper at unarmed combat sports events.

(c) Timekeeping, on a trial basis, during an unarmed combat sports event under the supervision of the commissioner, inspector, or department representative.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.12 Term of license.

(1) A license as a contestant shall expire 12 months after its date of issuance unless suspended or revoked under s. SPS 192.96.

(2) Unless suspended or revoked under s. SPS 192.96, a license as a promoter, matchmaker, second, judge, referee, ringside physician, or timekeeper shall expire at the end of the license term requested by the applicant under s. SPS 192.04 (1), 192.05 (1), 192.07 (1), 192.08 (1), 192.09 (1), 192.10 (1), or 192.11 (1). A license term shall begin on the date the license is issued.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.13 Renewal of license.

(1) To renew a license as a promoter, matchmaker, contestant, judge, referee, ringside physician, second, or timekeeper, an application for renewal shall be filed with the department. Except as provided under sub. (2), criteria and conditions for applications for an original license apply equally to applications for renewal.

(2) Unless requested by the department, a contestant is only required to provide the medical information under s. SPS 192.06 (2) (f) with the first application submitted after the contestant has attained the age of 40.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.135 Reciprocal licenses for service members, former service members, and spouses of service members or former service members. A reciprocal promoter, matchmaker, contestant, judge, referee, ringside physician, second, or timekeeper license shall be granted under this section to an applicant who is a service member, former service member, or the spouse of a service member or former service member as defined in s. 440.09 (1), Stats., if the department determines that the applicant meets all of the requirements under s. 440.09 (2), Stats. Subject to s. 440.09 (2m), Stats., the department may request verification necessary to make a determination under this section.

Note: Application forms are available on the department’s website at https://dsps.wi.gov/pages/Home.aspx, or by request from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708, or call (608) 266-2112.

History: CR 21-056: cr. Register July 2023 No. 811, eff. 8-1-23; correction made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2023 No. 811.

SPS 192.14 Unarmed combat sports event permits.

(1) A licensed promoter or club shall obtain a permit from the department prior to conducting an unarmed combat sports event. An application for a permit to conduct an event shall be submitted to the department at least 30 calendar days before the proposed date of the event and no more than 90 calendar days before an event by a promoter or an authorized representative of a licensed professional club, corporation, or association on forms provided by the department and shall include all of the following:

Note: Applications for permits are available from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Professional Credentialing, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708, or from the department’s website at: http://dsps.wi.gov.

(a) The name, address, phone number, and license number of the promoter or professional club, corporation, or association.

(b) The name and license number of the matchmaker that the promoter, or professional club, corporation, or association plans to use for the event. If the matchmaker is not licensed in Wisconsin, the event permit application shall include the proposed matchmaker’s application for licensure along with all required documents.

(c) The proposed date, starting time, and location of the event as well as all of the following information regarding the venue:

1. Name and address.

2. Seating capacity.

3. A floor plan that indicates the dressing room locations and fire exits.

4. Name and telephone number of the primary contact person of the proposed venue.

5. Evidence satisfactory to the department that the promoter or professional club has entered into a valid agreement with the owner or manager of the venue where the proposed unarmed combat sports event will be conducted.

(d)

1. Information regarding whether the proposed event will be all professional, all amateur, or combined professional and amateur, the form of unarmed combat for each bout, the number of rounds for each scheduled bout, and the proposed number of professional bouts and amateur bouts.

2. If the proposed event is scheduled for less than 24 total rounds, a request for approval of an event of that duration.

(e) A non-refundable permit application processing fee pursuant to s. 444.02 (3), Stats.

(f) The preliminary fight card for the event, which shall include all of the following:

1. The form of unarmed combat for each bout and the name and weight class of each of the proposed contestants in each bout.

2. The proposed order in which the bouts are to take place.

3. The names of the proposed seconds for each contestant.

4. The proposed purse or purses.

(g) A detailed plan to provide medical personnel and equipment for the event and for evacuating a seriously injured contestant to a hospital, including the name of the promoter or professional club’s representative responsible for evacuating an injured contestant, a detailed evacuation route, method of removal from the venue, the means of transportation to the hospital, and the name of the nearest hospital, pursuant to s. 444.095 (2) (c) and (d), Stats.

(h) A detailed plan to furnish adequate police or private security personnel or alternate means of protecting spectators, contestants, and officials. Alternate means of protection may include a department-approved divider between the cage or ring and spectators.

(i) The date, time, and location of the official weigh-in and physical examination.

(j) Proof of having obtained the insurance required by s. 444.18, Stats.

(k) Proof of having complied with s. 444.035, Stats., and s. SPS 192.03.

(L) The admission fee of all tickets and the proposed number of tickets, including the number and proposed value of complimentary tickets.

(2) Upon receipt of an application for a permit to conduct an unarmed combat sports event, the department may deny the application upon the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) The applicant does not provide all required information.

(b) The appropriate number of judges, referees, inspectors, or ringside physicians will not be available on that date.

(c) One or more of the contestants listed on the fight card are not licensed or are ineligible to compete due to being under a suspension or revocation order issued by the department or another licensing jurisdiction for any of the following reasons:

1. A recent knock-out or series of consecutive losses.

2. An injury, a requirement for a medical procedure, or a physician’s denial of certification.

3. Testing positive for a prohibited drug.

4. The use of false aliases, falsifying, or attempting to falsify official identification cards or documents issued pursuant to ch. 444, Stats.

5. Unprofessional conduct or other inappropriate behavior inconsistent with generally accepted methods of competition at unarmed combat sports events.

(d) One or more of the bouts listed on the fight card will be conducted other than as provided under subchs. IV to VII or as approved by the department under s. SPS 192.93.

(e) A request for approval under sub. (1) (d) 2. has not been submitted with the application or has been denied by the commissioner or department representative.

(3) The department may grant a permit for the event but withhold approval of one or more contestants scheduled to compete in an event, require bouts take place in a different order than proposed under sub. (1) (f) 2., or withhold approval of any bout scheduled to be conducted other than as provided under subchs. IV to VII or as approved by the department under s. SPS 192.93.

(4) A permit issued under this section shall allow the permit holder to conduct only the event named in the permit. A permit is not transferable. The promoter or representative of the professional club, corporation, or association whose name appears on the permit shall be present at the weigh-in and at the event until the conclusion of the final bout unless excused by the department.

(5) The commissioner or department representative shall determine if the contestants are evenly and fairly matched according to skill level, experience, and weight so as to produce a fair and sportsmanlike event. If the commissioner or department representative determines the contestants for a bout are not evenly or fairly matched, approval for that bout shall be withheld.

History: CR 17-016: cr. Register November 2017 No. 743, eff. 12-1-17.

SPS 192.15 Permits, issuance and effect.

(1) All promoters and professional clubs who have obtained a permit from the department under s. SPS 192.14 shall, no later than 4 business days before the scheduled event, submit all of the following: