143-654. Licensing and permitting.

(a) License and Permit Required. - Except for sanctioned amateur matches, it is unlawful for any person to act in this State as an announcer, contestant, judge, manager, matchmaker, promoter, referee, timekeeper, or second unless the person is licensed to do so under this Article. It is unlawful for a promoter to present a match in this State, other than a sanctioned amateur match, unless the promoter has a permit issued under this Article to do so. The Branch has the exclusive authority to issue, deny, suspend, or revoke any license or permit provided for in this Article.

(b) License. - All licenses issued under this Article shall be valid only during the calendar year in which they are issued, except contestant licenses shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. A license for an announcer, contestant, judge, matchmaker, referee, timekeeper, or second shall be issued only to a natural person. A natural person shall not transfer or assign a license or change it into another name. A license for a manager or promoter may be issued to a corporation or partnership; provided, however, that all officers or partners shall submit an application for individual licensure, and only those officers or partners who are licensed shall be entitled to negotiate or sign contracts. The addition of a new officer or partner during the license period shall necessitate the filing of an application for individual licensure by the new officer or partner.

An applicant for a license shall file with the Branch the appropriate nonrefundable fee and any forms, documents, medical examinations, or exhibits the Branch may require in order to properly administer this Article. The information requested shall include the date of birth and social security number of each applicant as well as any other personal data necessary to positively identify the applicant and may include the requirement of verification of any documents the Branch deems appropriate. A person may not participate under a fictitious or assumed name in any match unless the person has first registered the name with the Branch.

(c) Surety Bond. - An applicant for a promoter's license must submit, in addition to any other forms, documents, or exhibits requested by the Branch, a surety bond payable to the Branch for the benefit of any person injured or damaged by (i) the promoter's failure to comply with any provision of this Article or any rules adopted by the Branch or (ii) the promoter's failure to fulfill the obligations of any contract related to the holding of a match. The surety bond shall be issued in an amount to be no less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The amount of the surety bond shall be negotiable upon the sole discretion of the Branch. All surety bonds shall be upon forms approved by the Secretary of Public Safety and supplied by the Branch.

(d) Permit. - A permit issued to a promoter under this Article is valid for a single match. An applicant for a permit shall file with the Branch the appropriate nonrefundable fee and any forms or documents the Branch may require.