Professionals, organizations, and certain other entities involved in combative sports in Texas require licensure, including professional combative sports contestants, promoters, referees, judges, seconds, matchmakers, managers, and event coordinators who officiate or participate in a regulated professional event. The Combative Sports Licensing Program in Texas is administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
Texas Combative Sports Licensing Program Under Review
The TDLR is currently reviewing the Combative Sports Licensing Program and considering re-adoption, revision, or repeal of the Combative Sports chapter of the Texas Administrative Code. 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 61. “An assessment will be made by the Department as to whether the reasons for adopting or readopting these rules continue to exist. Each rule will be reviewed to determine whether it is obsolete, whether the rule reflects current legal and policy considerations, and whether the rule reflects current procedures of the Department.”
In Fiscal Year 2017 the Department issues 1,940 new individual licenses to combative sports contestants, event coordinators, judges, managers, matchmakers, promoters, referees, and seconds and renewed 309 licenses. If the TDLR repeals Chapter 61 on Combative Sports this industry with no longer fall under the purview of Texas state government regulation. The Department may also choose to readopt the legislation or amend portions thereof. You can visit here to follow updates on the review of the Texas Combative Sports Licensing Program.
Texas Combative Sports Licensing Program Regulations
The current regulations on the Texas Combative Sports Licensing Program include general licensing requirements as well as specific licensing requirements for referees and judges, and specific responsibilities for promoters, referees, judges, seconds, managers, timekeepers, ringside physicians, contestants, and amateur combative sports associations. To review the licensing requirements and responsibilities in full, visit here.
If an individual or entity licensed by the TDLR under the Combative Sports Licensing Program is found to have violated a TDLR rule, order of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Occupations Code pertaining to Sports, Amusements, and Entertainment, or any other pertinent regulation, the TDLR may institute proceedings “to impose administrative sanctions and/or recommend administrative penalties[.]” 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 61.91.
The TDLR Enforcement Division handles the complaints received by the agency. Complaints against licensees come mainly from consumers, or due to internal Department referrals from routine inspections, or are based on criminal background investigations of applicants and licensees.
Experienced TDLR License Defense Attorneys
If you have been notified of a complaint filed against you with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, BERTOLINO LLP can help. We are experienced TDLR license defense attorneys and we know how to navigate the Department’s complaint process. We are prepared to represent you at any legal hearing or proceeding regarding your professional license.
Our Firm believes that immediately consulting an experienced TDLR license defense attorney to review allegations of misconduct helps ensure the most favorable outcome in your case. With offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, we serve clients all over the state. As experienced attorneys, well-versed in state and federal laws, we know how to win. Our results speak for themselves.
BERTOLINO LLP helps professionals, like you, keep their licenses when those licenses are under attack by a state agency or board. If you are facing disciplinary action from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or any professional licensing board, contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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