ARTICLE 14. Administrative Enforcement [18840. - 18860.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 14.
in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18840. Section 18840.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if in the judgment of the commission the financial responsibility, experience, character and general fitness of an applicant for a license or renewal thereof, or any person connected with the applicant, are such that the participation of the applicant will be consistent with the public interest, convenience or necessity, and with the best interests of boxing and martial arts generally, and in conformity with the purposes of this chapter, and the rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the commission may grant an unrestricted license or issue a license subject to terms and conditions.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18841. Section 18841.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, licenses issued under this chapter may be revoked, suspended, or placed on probation under terms and conditions including, but not limited to, the making of restitution, for any violation or attempted violation of this chapter, any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or for any cause for which a license may be denied. Such action shall be final, except that the propriety of such action is subject to review, upon questions of law only, by the superior court. The action of the commission shall stand unless and until reversed by the court.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18842. Section 18842.

The commission, the executive officer and other employees duly authorized by the executive officer, shall have the power to suspend temporarily, any license until final determination by the commission when, in his or her opinion, the action is necessary to protect the public welfare or is in the best interest of boxing or martial arts. The suspension may be without advance hearing, but the suspended licensee may apply to the commission for a hearing on the matter to determine if the suspension should be modified or set aside. The application for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be received by the commission within 30 days after the date of suspension. Upon receipt of such written request, the commission shall set the matter for hearing within 30 days.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18843. Section 18843.

(a) In addition to its authority under other provisions of this chapter to take action against a licensee, the commission, its executive officer, or his or her duly authorized representative shall have the authority to assess fines not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules and regulations of the commission. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision, the commission may also assess a fine of up to 40 percent of the total purse for a violation of Section 18649 related to the use of prohibited substances. (c) Fines may be assessed without advance hearing, but the licensee may apply to the commission for a hearing on the matter if the fine should be modified or set aside. This application for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be received by the commission within 30 days after service of notice of the fine. Upon receipt of this written request, the commission shall set the matter for hearing within 30 days.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18844. Section 18844.

If a licensee fails to pay any fine assessed under this chapter within 30 days after receipt of notice by the executive officer, after time for appeal has passed or after action on an appeal by the commission, the commission may, without hearing, revoke or suspend the license held by the licensee and authorize the Attorney General to bring an action in superior court to collect the amount due and attorney’s fees. The action shall be speedily determined by the court and shall take precedence over all matters pending therein except criminal cases, applications for injunction, or other matters to which special precedence has been given by law.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18845. Section 18845.

(a) The commission, its executive officer, or any other employee duly authorized by the executive officer may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses, giving of testimony, or the production of documents before the commission, any member thereof, the executive officer, or any other duly authorized employee with the same effect as if they were issued in an action in the superior court. They may also administer oaths in all matters appertaining to their duties or connected with the administration of the affairs of the commission. (b) No witness shall be obliged to attend at a place out of the county in which the witness resides unless the distance is less than 150 miles from the witness’s residence, except the commission or its designee may endorse on a subpoena an order requiring the attendance of such witness upon a showing that the testimony of such witness is material and necessary. (c) Disobedience of a subpoena may be punished as a contempt by the superior court.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18846. Section 18846.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission, its executive officer, or his or her duly authorized representative may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses or the production or examination of documents before the commission, any member thereof, its executive officer, or his or her duly authorized representative. The subpoenas shall have the same effect as if they were issued in an action in superior court. The persons may also administer oaths, in all matters appertaining to their duties, the enforcement of this chapter, or otherwise connected with the administration of the affairs of the commission.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18847. Section 18847.

The disobedience of a subpoena issued under Section 18846 shall be attended by the same consequences and subject to the same penalties as if such disobedience occurred in an action in the superior court.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18848. Section 18848.

The license of any promoter or matchmaker found guilty of managing a boxer or martial arts fighter, either directly or indirectly, without written approval from the commission shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18849. Section 18849.

No promoter, nor any person having a proprietary interest in the promoter, shall have, either directly or indirectly, any proprietary interest in a boxer or martial arts fighter competing on the premises owned, leased, or rented by the promoter without written approval from the commission.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18850. Section 18850.

(a) Any boxer or martial arts fighter who participates in a contest or match while under suspension by the commission, or any other recognized commission, shall have his or her license revoked. (b) Any licensee who, directly or indirectly, aids or abets a boxer or martial arts fighter in violation of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18851. Section 18851.

A manager of a boxer or martial arts fighter shall maintain an accurate annual record showing all of the following with respect to each contest in which the boxer or martial arts fighter has participated: (a) Training expenses. (b) Amount of money actually paid to the contestant. (c) Amount of money which the manager received from the purse. (d) Amount of money owed to the manager by the contestant. The manager’s record shall be supported by documentation, shall be made available to both the fighter under contract and the commission upon request, and shall be kept in the manager’s possession for a period of five years from the transaction.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18852. Section 18852.

No fighter shall be paid before a contest, except that a promoter may, with the written approval of the commission, advance to the fighter before the contest, up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) plus any necessary transportation and living expenses. However, such advance, except necessary transportation and living expenses, shall not exceed 20 percent of the fighter’s purse.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18853. Section 18853.

No fighter, nor his or her manager, shall be paid for the services of the fighter except in the presence of an authorized commission representative. The commission representative shall report to the executive officer any payment made contrary to the provisions of the contract on file with the commission.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18855. Section 18855.

The commission shall recognize and enforce contracts between boxers or martial arts fighters and managers and between boxers or martial arts fighters and licensed clubs. Contracts shall be executed on printed forms approved by the commission. The commission may recognize or enforce a contract not on its printed form if entered into in another jurisdiction. No other contract or agreement may be recognized or enforced by the commission. All disputes between the parties to the contract, including the validity of the contract, shall be arbitrated by the commission pursuant to the provisions of the contract. Subject to Section 227 of Title 4 of the California Code of Regulations, a person who seeks arbitration of a contract shall send a written request to the commission’s headquarters and to the office of the Attorney General. The commission may seek cost recovery related to arbitration proceedings from the parties subject to the proceedings.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18856. Section 18856.

(a) The commission, the executive officer, or authorized representative shall have power to order a promoter to withhold any purse, any part thereof, any receipts or other funds owing or payable to any contestant, or the share thereof of any manager, if, in his or her judgment, it should appear that the contestant is not competing honestly, or is intentionally not competing to the best of his or her ability, or if it should appear that the contestant, manager, or any seconds have violated any provision of this act, or the rules and regulations adopted by the commission. (b) Any purse, or portion thereof, so withheld, shall be delivered by the promoter to the commission upon demand. Any contestant claiming the money withheld shall within 10 days after the end of the contest apply in writing to the commission for a hearing, the commission shall fix a date for the hearing, and after the hearing determines the disposition to be made of the money held by the commission. (c) If no application for a hearing is filed within the time prescribed the commission shall meet and determine the disposition to be made of the money held by the commission. (d) This section does not apply to any exhibition where the participants are not competing to the best of their ability.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18857. Section 18857.

The commission, the executive officer, or authorized representative shall have the power to order a promoter to withhold 10 percent of the total purse payable to a contestant if the manager of the contestant does not present an itemized statement of expenses incurred in connection with the contest. The money so withheld shall be paid to the commission and held in trust for payment to the contestant or his or her manager, upon presentation by the manager to the commission of the itemized statement of expenses.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18858. Section 18858.

Any licensee who directly or indirectly holds, participates in, aids, or abets any sham or fake contest or match shall be subject to disciplinary action. This section does not apply to any exhibition.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18859. Section 18859.

(a) The commission shall have the authority to obtain and review criminal history information to determine whether an applicant or licensee has been convicted of any offense or has been arrested for any offense for which disposition is still pending. A conviction, or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to an offense, may be cause to deny an application or take disciplinary action against a licensee dependent on the relevancy of the offense to the licensed activity. (b) The commission may require applicants to submit two sets of fingerprints which shall be furnished to the Department of Justice. Upon the request of the commission, the Department of Justice shall submit one set of the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain a copy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s record and shall retain one set to search the California criminal history system.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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