GEORGIA WRESTLING BILL PASSES LEGISLATURE
By Larry Goodman on 2008-03-11 22:35:58
The bill that would revamp
regulation of pro wrestling in the Georgia was approved by the Georgia
Senate today by a vote of 49-6. To become law, the bill must be passed by
the House of Representatives during this session of the General Assembly, which
is scheduled to adjourn on March 18.
The substitute version passed
by the Senate is far more favorable to the wrestling industry than the
bill as it was originally introduced.
The portions of the bill that came
under fire from the wrestling industry at the February 12 public
hearing have largely been eliminated. No longer present are the requirements
for an ambulance at every show, the presence of a doctor at ringside and the
5% gate tax. In addition, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission
is expressly prohibited from regulating the entertainment aspects of the
matches.
It contains many of the rules
suggested by the Georgia Wrestling Promoters Advisory Committee headed
by Bill Behrens.The annual license fee for wrestlers is set at $20. The
licensure application must be accompanied by documentation the wrestler
passed a basic medical exam. Bleeding is permissible on the condition
that the wrestler provided documentation of negative blood tests for
the presence of communicable diseases.
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