(a) Except as provided in this section, there is in the Department of Consumer Affairs the State Athletic Commission, which consists of seven members. Five members shall be appointed by the Governor, one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The members of the commission appointed by the Governor are subject to confirmation by the Senate pursuant to Section 1322 of the Government Code.
No person who is currently licensed, or who was licensed within the last two years, under this chapter may be appointed or reappointed to, or serve on, the commission.
(b) In appointing commissioners under this section, the Governor, the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Speaker of the Assembly shall make every effort to ensure that at least four of the members of the commission shall have experience and demonstrate expertise in one of the following areas:
(1) A licensed physician or surgeon having expertise or specializing in neurology, neurosurgery, head trauma, or sports medicine. Sports medicine includes, but is not limited to, physiology, kinesiology, or other aspects of sports medicine.
(2) Financial management.
(3) Public safety.
(4) Past experience in the activity regulated by this chapter, either as a contestant, a referee or official, a promoter, or a venue operator.
(c) Each member of the commission shall be appointed for a term of four years. All terms shall end on January 1. Vacancies occurring prior to the expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. No commission member may serve more than two consecutive terms.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, members first appointed shall be subject to the following terms:
(1) The Governor shall appoint two members for two years, two members for three years, and one member for four years.
(2) The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint one member for four years.
(3) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member for four years.
(e) (1) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of this section renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 486, Sec. 1. (SB 1456) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions.)