THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

61

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the auditor to conduct a financial and management audit of the state boxing commission of Hawaii.

 

 


     WHEREAS, amateur boxing contests were placed under the control and supervision of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii pursuant to section 440-30, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii was created to ensure that sportsmanship was not overshadowed by business concerns, and to promote the principles of fair play and honesty in the regulation of boxing in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding decisions whereby the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii granted licenses and permits in disregard of chapter 74, Hawaii Administrative Rules and questionable actions of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii has been accused of bypassing rules relating to safety, including:

 

     (1)  Issuing licenses for boxers pursuant to section 16‑74‑19, Hawaii Administrative Rules, without the required physician report;

 

     (2)  Failing to enforce section 16-74-97, Hawaii Administrative Rules, which requires that a Commission physician be present at all boxing bouts; and

 

     (3)  Refusing to permit interested parties from raising concerns about boxer license applicants abilities, resulting in unqualified boxers grossly mismatched with professional boxers; and

 

     WHEREAS, accusations have been made that the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii has failed to enforce section 16-74-218, Hawaii Administrative Rules, relating to contracts for bouts, resulting in boxers being unaware of the terms of their contract at the time of the fight; and

 

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the Chairperson of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii allegedly soliciting amateur fighters and offering them incentives to turn professional, including offering to train them himself, which would be a potential conflict of interest; and

 

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the Vice Chairperson of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii, whose husband was formerly the head of Amateur Boxing in Hawaii and is under investigation by the National Amateur Boxing Association, allegedly being in a potential conflict of interest; and

 

     WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii's refusal to approve an organization's application for contests, despite the organization having submitted the appropriate documentation; and

 

     WHEREAS, without the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii's approval for Amateur Boxing contests, more than one hundred seventy young amateur boxers throughout the State are in jeopardy of missing opportunities for athletic competition and scholarships; and

 

     WHEREAS, Amateur Boxing benefits Hawaii's youth, including creating opportunities to earn college scholarships; and

 

     WHEREAS, the questionable actions of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii, particularly in its dealings with Amateur Boxing, deserves examination and review; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a financial and management audit of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of any findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the State Auditor, and the Chairperson of the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

State Boxing Commission of Hawaii; Amateur Boxing; Audit