Warren-Clinton News

House Bill 538, sponsored by Representatives Jamie Callender and Adam Mathews, was recently discussed in the House General Government Committee. The bill aims to strengthen the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC) by providing it with more resources to fulfill its expanded responsibilities in regulating athletics and athlete agents.

The OAC was established in 1996 as an expansion of the Ohio Boxing Commission to regulate all unarmed combat sports in the state. It has since taken on additional duties, including oversight of athlete agents and aspects of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) licensure. The commission operates with two full-time employees, one part-time employee, and a board consisting of five voting members and two non-voting members. Its headquarters are located in Youngstown, reflecting Northeast Ohio’s history with notable boxing figures such as Lenny Mancini, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and Don King.

Earlier this year, JCARR staff found that none of the OAC’s 106 administrative rules had been reviewed within the required five-year period set by state law. This review process is intended to ensure that rules are not outdated or unnecessarily burdensome; failing to meet these requirements can make rules unenforceable. Additionally, it was discovered that no rules had been established regarding oversight of athlete agents.

Following these findings, JCARR called on the OAC’s executive director in June to explain why these reviews had not occurred. The director cited a lack of legal support from the Ohio Attorney General’s office for rulemaking and reviewing regulatory responsibilities. In response, House Bill 538 proposes moving the OAC under the Department of Commerce to provide access to legal assistance as well as rulemaking and personnel support. This change would also give the commission more resources for compliance activities and investigations into unregulated fights.

“JCARR exists to promote government efficiency. By ensuring state agencies operate within statutory authority and accomplish their core functions, we remove excessive burdens on Ohioans,” said Mathews. “House Bill 538 is government working as intended: by bringing the OAC into compliance and giving it the resources it needs to effectively oversee unarmed combat sports, we clarify and solidify its regulatory framework to the benefit of all Ohioans in this arena.”

“Ensuring that agencies are in compliance with state and federal law while incurring a minimal burden on Ohioans is part of the core mission of JCARR,” said Callender. “Thanks to the work of the JCARR team, the OAC is not only well on its way to bringing its rules into compliance but will soon have the resources it needs to effectively oversee unarmed combat sports in Ohio, paving the way for future Ohioans to compete at the highest level of boxing, MMA, and other athletic endeavors in a controlled and regulated manner.”

House Bill 538 will proceed through further hearings before potential passage.