(a) The State Athletic Commission shall have the authority to appoint and issue annual licenses to the following persons with regard to participation in combative sports in this state:

(1) A person engaging in combative sports;

(2) A promoter of a combative sports match or exhibition;

(3) A manager;

(4) A matchmaker;

(5) A referee;

(6) A judge;

(7) A physician;

(8) A timekeeper; and

(9) A person arranging, participating in, or otherwise involved with matches and exhibitions as provided in § 17-22-301(a).

(b) The State Athletic Commission shall have the authority to refuse to issue a license to any person or organization that has been sanctioned in any way by any comparable licensing body of another state.

(c)

(1) The State Athletic Commission shall not license a person who at the time of application is a registered sex offender designated as Level 2 or higher on the Arkansas Sex Offender Registry.

(2) A person's status as a registered sex offender is good cause for the revocation of the person's license previously issued by the State Athletic Commission.

(d) Fees for the licenses shall be established by the State Athletic Commission.

(e) All licenses as provided in this section shall expire annually on June 30.

(f)

(1) A referee or judge for professional events shall attend courses given by and obtain certification from the Association of Boxing Commissions for the referee or judge's discipline.

(2) A referee or judge may take the courses provided by the Association of Boxing Commissions anywhere in the United States if documentation of training and certification is provided upon application for a license.

(g) The State Athletic Commission may set an event permit processing fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).