Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Occupational Licensing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ohio Athletic Commission reviews licensing, eyes one-year agent license to align bonds
Summary
The House General Government Committee heard from Charles Haskell, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, on licensing growth, medical and trainer requirements, and a proposal under consideration to shift athlete-agent licenses from two-year to one-year terms to align with annual bond expirations and reduce lapses.
Charles Haskell, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, told the House General Government Committee that licenses for promoters, officials and athletes have increased in recent years and the commission is reviewing several changes to reduce administrative lapses and bolster safety.
"Since 2021 COVID, our total number of licenses have been steadily increasing," Haskell said, noting the commission issued 1,056 licenses in 2024, up from 926 in the prior year. He described the OAC as consisting of five voting members and a small staff including one executive director, one full-time and one part-time employee.
Haskell described current medical safeguards for combat athletes — "there's extensive medicals, there's blood work, there's MRI, for people 35" — and said the commission is exploring new training and concussion protocols for cornermen and trainers. On officials, he said referees must shadow licensed referees "3 to 5 times" before acting independently.
Committee members focused much of their questioning on athlete-agent licensing and reciprocity. Haskell said neighboring states do license similar participants and the commission works with Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York "to try to have some consistency between the states." He said the agency is considering changing athlete-agent registration from a two-year to a one-year term so bond expirations align with license expirations, reducing paperwork and inadvertent lapses.
"We would probably raise it $50 to $150," Haskell said when asked about the likely fee impact, adding that a new one-year athlete-agent fee would still be "relatively low compared to most other states."
Haskell also explained that licensing fees do not fully fund the commission's operations and that a 5% tax on event gate receipts supplies the major share of revenue; event reports are audited and the commission enforces promoter responsibilities.
The committee did not take formal action; Haskell said the commission will continue evaluating license requirements and possible rule changes to improve safety and administrative compliance.
