{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-831.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-831.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-831.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-831.html"}],"law_id":82999,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82999,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-831","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Department","history":"1998, c. 895; 2010, c. 764; 2012, c. 769; 2015, cc. 216, 264; 2016, c. 756; 2025, cc. 95, 111.","full_text":"The Department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the powers and duties otherwise conferred by law, the Director shall have the powers and duties of a regulatory board as contained in \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-201 and 54.1-202, and shall have the power and duty to:\n\n1\n\nPromulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) which implement the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.) and protect the public against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous or unfit persons engaging in the activities regulated by this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe regulations shall include requirements for (i) initial authorization and renewal of the authorization; (ii) authorization and conduct of events; (iii) standards of practice for persons arranging, promoting, conducting, supervising, and participating in events; (iv) grounds for disciplinary actions against regulants; (v) records to be kept and maintained by regulants; (vi) the manner in which fees are to be accounted for and submitted to the Department, provided, however, that no gate fee shall be required for amateur-only events conducted by a sanctioning organization approved by the Director pursuant to § 54.1-829.1; and (vii) minimum health coverage for injuries sustained in a boxing or martial arts match. The Department shall have direct oversight of professional events to assure the safety and well-being of boxers, martial artists, and professional wrestlers, except that those portions of an event containing amateur bouts shall be conducted under the oversight of a sanctioning organization. Sanctioning organizations shall have sole responsibility for direct oversight of amateur-only events in which martial artists compete.2\n\nCharge each applicant for authorization and for renewals of authorization a nonrefundable fee subject to the provisions of § 54.1-113 and subdivision A 4 of § 54.1-201. A sanctioning organization shall be subject to the application fee provisions of subsection D of § 54.1-829.1.3\n\nConduct investigations to determine the suitability of applicants for authorization and to determine the regulant’s compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.4\n\nConduct investigations as to whether monopolies, combinations, or other circumstances exist to restrain matches or exhibition bouts of boxing, martial arts, or professional wrestling anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General may assist investigations at the request of the Department.5\n\nExercise jurisdiction over all boxing, martial arts, and professional wrestling conducted within the Commonwealth by any person, except where otherwise exempted.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297533,"text":"The Department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the powers and duties otherwise conferred by law, the Director shall have the powers and duties of a regulatory board as contained in \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-201 and 54.1-202, and shall have the power and duty to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":297534,"text":"Promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) which implement the federal Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.) and protect the public against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous or unfit persons engaging in the activities regulated by this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe regulations shall include requirements for (i) initial authorization and renewal of the authorization; (ii) authorization and conduct of events; (iii) standards of practice for persons arranging, promoting, conducting, supervising, and participating in events; (iv) grounds for disciplinary actions against regulants; (v) records to be kept and maintained by regulants; (vi) the manner in which fees are to be accounted for and submitted to the Department, provided, however, that no gate fee shall be required for amateur-only events conducted by a sanctioning organization approved by the Director pursuant to § 54.1-829.1; and (vii) minimum health coverage for injuries sustained in a boxing or martial arts match. The Department shall have direct oversight of professional events to assure the safety and well-being of boxers, martial artists, and professional wrestlers, except that those portions of an event containing amateur bouts shall be conducted under the oversight of a sanctioning organization. Sanctioning organizations shall have sole responsibility for direct oversight of amateur-only events in which martial artists compete.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":297535,"text":"Charge each applicant for authorization and for renewals of authorization a nonrefundable fee subject to the provisions of § 54.1-113 and subdivision A 4 of § 54.1-201. A sanctioning organization shall be subject to the application fee provisions of subsection D of § 54.1-829.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":297536,"text":"Conduct investigations to determine the suitability of applicants for authorization and to determine the regulant’s compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":297537,"text":"Conduct investigations as to whether monopolies, combinations, or other circumstances exist to restrain matches or exhibition bouts of boxing, martial arts, or professional wrestling anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General may assist investigations at the request of the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":297538,"text":"Exercise jurisdiction over all boxing, martial arts, and professional wrestling conducted within the Commonwealth by any person, except where otherwise exempted.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15638,"edition_id":1,"name":"Boxing and Wrestling Events","identifier":"8.1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12755,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:13","permalink":{"id":240933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15638,"identifier":"8.1","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1","url":"\/54.1\/II\/8.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12755,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12755,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":72810,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-828","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-828\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-828","metadata":false},{"id":76867,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-829","catch_line":"Authorization from Director required; bond; physical examination; emergency medical services vehicles; physician; health insurance","url":"\/54.1-829\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-829","metadata":false},{"id":78533,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-829.1","catch_line":"Sanctioning organization; amateur martial arts events","url":"\/54.1-829.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-829.1","metadata":false},{"id":76841,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-830","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-830\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-830","metadata":false},{"id":82999,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-831","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Department","url":"\/54.1-831\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831","metadata":false},{"id":61315,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-831.01","catch_line":"Boxing, Martial Arts, and Professional Wrestling Advisory Board","url":"\/54.1-831.01\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831.01","metadata":false},{"id":59748,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-831.1","catch_line":"Summary suspension of boxing license","url":"\/54.1-831.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831.1","metadata":false},{"id":77173,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-832","catch_line":"Director authorized to contract for certain services; award of contract; authority when no contract is in effect","url":"\/54.1-832\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-832","metadata":false},{"id":75873,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-833","catch_line":"Reports; cable television systems; fee on receipts","url":"\/54.1-833\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-833","metadata":false},{"id":77378,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-834","catch_line":"Prohibited activities; penalties","url":"\/54.1-834\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-834","metadata":false},{"id":75464,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-835","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-835\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-835","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76841,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-830","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-830\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-830","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61315,"structure_id":15638,"section_number":"54.1-831.01","catch_line":"Boxing, Martial Arts, and Professional Wrestling Advisory Board","url":"\/54.1-831.01\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-831\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1998. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 895<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2010, chapter 764<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 769<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 216<\/a> and 264<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 756<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 95<\/a> and 111<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86911,"section_number":"2.2-4000","catch_line":"Short title; purpose","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-4000\/"},{"id":72059,"section_number":"54.1-113","catch_line":"Regulatory boards to adjust fees; certain transfer of moneys collected on behalf of health regulatory boards prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-113\/"},{"id":65863,"section_number":"54.1-201","catch_line":"Powers and duties of regulatory boards","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-201\/"},{"id":86442,"section_number":"54.1-202","catch_line":"Monetary penalty; delegation to Director of authority enter consent agreements","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-202\/"},{"id":78533,"section_number":"54.1-829.1","catch_line":"Sanctioning organization; amateur martial arts events","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-829.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":240951,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82999,"identifier":"54.1-831","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831","url":"\/54.1-831\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-831\/","token":"54.1\/II\/8.1\/54.1-831","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of the Department","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-831","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Department<\/span> shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the powers and duties otherwise conferred by law<\/span>, the Director<\/span> shall have the powers and duties of a regulatory board as contained in \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-201<\/a> and 54.1-202<\/a>, and shall have the power and duty to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000<\/a> et seq.) which implement the federal Professional Boxing<\/span> Safety Act of 1996 (15 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.) and protect the public against incompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous or unfit persons<\/span> engaging in the activities regulated by this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe regulations shall include requirements for (i) initial authorization and renewal of the authorization; (ii) authorization and conduct of events<\/span>; (iii) standards of practice for persons<\/span> arranging, promoting, conducting, supervising, and participating in events<\/span>; (iv) grounds for disciplinary actions against regulants<\/span>; (v) records to be kept and maintained by regulants<\/span>; (vi) the manner in which fees are to be accounted for and submitted to the Department<\/span>, provided, however, that no gate fee shall be required for amateur<\/span>-only events<\/span> conducted by a sanctioning organization<\/span> approved by the Director<\/span> pursuant to § 54.1-829.1<\/a>; and (vii) minimum health coverage for injuries sustained in a boxing<\/span> or martial arts<\/span> match. The Department<\/span> shall have direct oversight of professional events<\/span> to assure the safety and well-being of boxers<\/span>, martial artists<\/span>, and professional wrestlers<\/span>, except that those portions of an event<\/span> containing amateur<\/span> bouts shall be conducted under the oversight of a sanctioning organization<\/span>. Sanctioning organizations<\/span> shall have sole responsibility for direct oversight of amateur<\/span>-only events<\/span> in which martial artists<\/span> compete. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Charge each applicant for authorization and for renewals of authorization a nonrefundable fee subject to the provisions of § 54.1-113<\/a> and subdivision A 4 of § 54.1-201<\/a>. A sanctioning organization<\/span> shall be subject to the application fee provisions of subsection D of § 54.1-829.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Conduct investigations to determine the suitability of applicants for authorization and to determine the regulant<\/span>’s compliance with applicable statutes<\/span> and regulations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Conduct investigations as to whether monopolies, combinations, or other circumstances exist to restrain matches or exhibition bouts<\/span> of boxing<\/span>, martial arts<\/span>, or professional wrestling<\/span> anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General<\/span> may assist investigations at the request of the Department<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Exercise jurisdiction<\/span> over all boxing<\/span>, martial arts<\/span>, and professional wrestling<\/span> conducted within the Commonwealth by any person<\/span>, except where otherwise exempted. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT (\u00a7 54.1-831)\n\nThe Department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In\naddition to the powers and duties otherwise conferred by law, the Director shall\nhave the powers and duties of a regulatory board as contained in \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-201\nand 54.1-202, and shall have the power and duty to:\n\n1. Promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act\n(§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) which implement the federal Professional Boxing Safety\nAct of 1996 (15 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.) and protect the public against\nincompetent, unqualified, unscrupulous or unfit persons engaging in the\nactivities regulated by this chapter.\n\t\t\tThe regulations shall include requirements for (i) initial authorization and\nrenewal of the authorization; (ii) authorization and conduct of events; (iii)\nstandards of practice for persons arranging, promoting, conducting, supervising,\nand participating in events; (iv) grounds for disciplinary actions against\nregulants; (v) records to be kept and maintained by regulants; (vi) the manner\nin which fees are to be accounted for and submitted to the Department, provided,\nhowever, that no gate fee shall be required for amateur-only events conducted by\na sanctioning organization approved by the Director pursuant to §\n54.1-829.1; and (vii) minimum health coverage for injuries sustained in a boxing\nor martial arts match. The Department shall have direct oversight of\nprofessional events to assure the safety and well-being of boxers, martial\nartists, and professional wrestlers, except that those portions of an event\ncontaining amateur bouts shall be conducted under the oversight of a sanctioning\norganization. Sanctioning organizations shall have sole responsibility for\ndirect oversight of amateur-only events in which martial artists compete.\n\n2. Charge each applicant for authorization and for renewals of authorization a\nnonrefundable fee subject to the provisions of § 54.1-113 and subdivision A\n4 of § 54.1-201. A sanctioning organization shall be subject to the\napplication fee provisions of subsection D of § 54.1-829.1.\n\n3. Conduct investigations to determine the suitability of applicants for\nauthorization and to determine the regulant’s compliance with applicable\nstatutes and regulations.\n\n4. Conduct investigations as to whether monopolies, combinations, or other\ncircumstances exist to restrain matches or exhibition bouts of boxing, martial\narts, or professional wrestling anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Attorney\nGeneral may assist investigations at the request of the Department.\n\n5. Exercise jurisdiction over all boxing, martial arts, and professional\nwrestling conducted within the Commonwealth by any person, except where\notherwise exempted.\n\nHISTORY: 1998, c. 895; 2010, c. 764; 2012, c. 769; 2015, cc. 216, 264; 2016, c.\n756; 2025, cc. 95, 111.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}