This section creates the Louisiana State Athletic Commission, gives it control over professional boxing and wrestling matters in the state, and sets rules for appointments, office location, member qualifications, and liability.
CHAPTER 3. BOXING AND WRESTLING §61. Louisiana State Athletic Commission; domicile; authority A. There is hereby created a Louisiana State Athletic Commission within the office of the governor. It shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor making the appointment. Five members appointed by the governor shall be appointed, one from each Public Service Commission district and two from the state at large. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. The governor shall designate one member as chairman, one member as secretary, and one member as vice chairman. The secretary shall execute a bond of five thousand dollars, in favor of the state treasurer, for the faithful performance of the duties of his office. The premium of this bond shall be paid out of the commission funds. B. The commission has sole and full discretion, authority, management, regulation, and control of all professional boxing, mixed technique events, and wrestling contests held, conducted, or given within this state, and such other powers and duties specified in this Chapter, and all other powers necessary and proper to enable it to execute fully and effectively all of the objects, purposes, duties, and policies of this Chapter. The commission shall have power in its discretion to declare forfeited the prize, remuneration, or purse, or any part thereof, belonging to the contestants or one of them, or the share thereof of any manager if, in its judgment, such contestant or contestants are not honestly competing or the contestant or manager of a contestant, as the case may be, has committed an act in the premises in violation of any rule, order, or regulation of the commission. C. The commission shall be domiciled in and shall maintain an office in the city of New Orleans. Beginning July 1, 2019, the commission shall be domiciled in the city of Baton Rouge. The commission may sue to enforce the provisions of this Chapter in any of the courts in the state. D. The commission may make any rules and regulations for the administration of its affairs as are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Chapter. Four members of the commission constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of at least four members is necessary to render a decision, one of whom must be the chairman and one of whom must be the vice chairman or the secretary. E. All members of the commission shall be persons of good moral character. No member of the commission shall be connected with professional or amateur boxing or wrestling either as promoter, associate promoter, agent, employee, manager, publicity agent or professional better, second, fighter or wrestler during his tenure as a member of the commission. F. No member of the commission shall be liable in a civil action for any act performed in good faith in the execution of his duties as a commission member. G. The commission, the individual members of the commission, and the state of Louisiana shall not be liable for damages in any civil action for any event which is promoted pursuant to R.S. 4:83(B). The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to damages caused by gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Acts 1974, No. 553, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 236, §1, eff. July 5, 1977; Acts 1980, No. 721, §1, eff. July 29, 1980; Acts 1985, No. 752, §1; Acts 1988, No. 576, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1988; Acts 1993, No. 192, §1; Acts 2001, No. 8, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2007, No. 90, §1; Acts 2018, No. 210, §1; Acts 2018, No. 356, §1; Acts 2025, No. 290, §1. NOTE: SEE ACTS 1988, No. 576, §2.