I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4900

To provide for the establishment of an occupational safety and health standard applicable to boxing under the Occupational Safety and Health

Act of 1970, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 4, 1994

Mr. WILLIAMS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To provide for the establishment of an occupational safety

and health standard applicable to boxing under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, and for other

purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Boxing Labor Stand5 ards Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS REGARDING BOX2 ING EQUIPMENT.

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The

4 Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in this Act referred to as

5 the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish an advisory council on oc6 cupational safety and health respecting the safety of box7 ing. The council shall consist of 12 members appointed

8 by the Secretary from among individuals with professional

9 expertise in boxing, including boxers, boxing managers,

10 referees, trainers, and other persons with a professional

11 role in boxing, both as a sport and as a business. The

12 Secretary shall designate one of the appointees to serve

13 as chairman and all members shall serve for four years

14 terms.

15 (b) FEDERAL BOXING STANDARD.—The council shall

16 advise, consult with, and, within 1 year after the date of

17 the enactment of this Act, make recommendations to the

18 Secretary concerning an occupational safety and health

19 standard respecting the safety of boxing. On the basis of

20 such advise and recommendations, the Secretary shall pro21 mulgate such standard pursuant to section 6 of the Occu22 pational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655).

23 Such standard shall be enforceable under sections 8, 9,

24 10, 11, and 13 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 657, 658, 659,

25 660, and 662), and any violation of the standard shall be
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1 subject to the penalties under section 17 of such Act (29

2 U.S.C. 666).

3 (c) STATE STANDARDS.—In the case of any State

4 which—

5 (1)(A) has a State Occupational Safety and

6 Health Plan approved under section 18 of the Occu7 pational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C.

8 667) which is more effective with respect to the safe9 ty of boxing; or

10 (B) has some other standard certified by the

11 Secretary as more effective with respect to the safety

12 of boxing than the standard established under sub13 section (b); and

14 (2) has a State boxing commission to regulate

15 and enforce any such standard,

16 the standard adopted under subsection (b) shall not pre17 empt any such State standard (or any provision thereof)

18 as long as the State submits an inspection program to the

19 Secretary for certification.

20 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF BOXING STANDARD

21 COMPLIANCE WITHIN OSHA.

22 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish

23 within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

24 the Office of Boxing Standards Compliance (hereinafter

25 in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Office’’). The Secretary
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1 shall appoint an individual to serve as the Director of such

2 Office.

3 (b) FUNCTIONS.—The Office shall have the authority

4 to enforce the occupational safety and health standard re5 lating to boxing established under section 2(b), including

6 the authority to conduct inspections and investigations

7 pursuant to section 8 of the Occupational Safety and

8 Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 657) and to establish a

9 passport system of boxer registration and tracking.

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