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By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Georgia Senate bill 413 passed through the Regulated Industries Committee today, and now will be reviewed by the Rules Committee prior to reaching the Senate floor for final voting. The bill was revised between Monday and Wednesday to expand on the provisions in the separate "pro wrestling section" that we reported on Monday.

The revised bill includes an expansion on fees to be paid by promoters. Promoters who employ fewer than 25 pro wrestlers will pay an annual license fee of $100 (independents). Companies with between 25 and 50 wrestlers will pay $250 (TNA). Companies with over 50 pro wrestlers in the promotion till pay $500 (WWE).

Also expanded in the bill is a provision for the promotion to file a pre-show report ten days prior to the event disclosing: name of the promoter running the event, time and location, list of pro wrestlers who have a license to perform in the state of Georgia and the date a license was issued, and a notification on which pro wrestlers have the "intent to cut themselves, if applicable."

The post-show report shall contain the time and location, the list of wrestlers who actually participated, the names of wrestlers who bled, and a list of wrestlers who "required actual medical attention by a physician or an ambulance service or police activities or actions".

The bill also expands on the verbiage for pro wrestlers being medically cleared to participate in a show. They must apply for a license yearly, with the license expiring on December 31. The licensing section now includes the following two provisions, the second of which is written to be voluntary:

(1) "The professional wrestler's application for licensure shall be accompanied with documentation, signed by a licensed physician, of passing a basic medical exam." There is no "prerequisite" in the "basic medical exam" for the approving doctor to indicate whether a wrestler tested positive for steroids, or indicate whether the wrestler has been cleared to take steroids for a legal medical purpose.

(2) "A licensed professional wrestler may present, prior to the match, contest, or exhibition the results of an original copy of a blood test dated within 190 days of the match, contest, or exhibition which demonstrates that the wrestler is free from Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, or any other communicable disease. If such documentation is not provided prior to the match, contest, or exhibition, and the professional wrestler bleeds, the performance shall cease immediately."

The final section of the pro wrestling portion of the bill indicates that a wrestler can have his or her license suspended indefinitely for testing positive for a communicable disease or testing positive for a prohibited drug within 60 days preceding a match or event. The bill is unclear whether the Commission would mandate a drug test within 60 days, or require a promotion, such as WWE or TNA, to provide a report on all wrestlers who have tested positive for illegal drugs for non-medical purpose within the last 60 days though their own drug testing policies.

The revised bill does not expand on a provision added on Monday preventing wrestlers from performing while impaired by drugs or having used anabolic steroids. It remains unclear when the Athletic Commission's assigned officer(s), who have access to the backstage area of the venue to monitor wrestlers, can demand a drug test if the officer suspects a wrestler has violated the regulations. The provision is written with the idea that, since steroid use is illegal when not prescribed for a medical purpose, the federal laws of illegality would blanket the regulations passed in this bill.

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