The commission shall promulgate regulations as necessary for the protection of the health and safety of participants and to carry out the provisions of this article. Schools or organizations that fall under the auspices of the United States Olympic Committee, events sponsored by USA Boxing - South Carolina Association, Inc., and businesses that offer instruction in the combative sports are exempt from the provisions of this article. If upon investigation the commission determines that associations or other entities have health and safety rules sufficient to meet the requirements of this article, the commission may exempt these associations or other entities from the regulations promulgated by the commission pursuant to this article. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including applicable regulations, no tax or fee may be imposed by the State Athletic Commission or a county athletic commission on the gross receipts received by reason of the lease or sale of television, motion picture, or radio rights in connection with any boxing, wrestling, kick boxing, full contact karate, or sparring exhibition or performance in this State. No person may hold or participate in an event without a license from the commission.
All licenses are valid for one year.
The commission shall by regulation establish a schedule of fees for licenses. Every application for a license under this section must be duly verified and in writing, and, in the case of a corporation or association, signed by its president and attested by its secretary. It shall set forth the information required by the commission and the application for a participant's license must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's birth certificate or other proof of age as may be acceptable to the commission and a written waiver by the applicant of any cause of action against any member or employee of the commission, or of any county athletic commission, referee, ringside physician, or other official arising out of the proper performance of their official duties. No license may be granted to a participant less than eighteen years of age but the commission may by unanimous vote waive this age limit for a specific participant. License applications must be filed with the commission at least one week prior to the commission's actions but the time requirement may be waived in the event of emergency substitutions.