1. (a) To qualify for a new license as a referee, an applicant must:

   1. (1) be at least 21 years of age;
   2. (2) not have been convicted of a felony;

   3. (3) demonstrate the ability to perform the functions of a referee by:

      1. (A) having completed a training program provided by, or approved by the Executive Director, that consists of classroom training and an internship program; or,

      2. (B) meeting one or more of the following;

         1. (i) having at least three years active experience as a referee in the combative sport in which he seeks endorsement by having officiated in at least ten combative sporting events per year;
         2. (ii) being currently licensed as a referee in a state that the Executive Director has determined has licensing requirements that are equivalent to Texas' requirements; or
         3. (iii) having formerly held a Texas referee's license that lapsed in good standing.

2. (b) Referee licenses will be endorsed with one or more of the following legends:

   1. (1) B (Boxing);
   2. (2) KB (Kick-boxing); and
   3. (3) MMA (Mixed martial arts).
3. (c) An endorsement may be obtained by completion of classroom training and an internship program provided or approved by the Executive Director for that class of endorsement.
4. (d) Persons renewing licenses, or obtaining new licenses on the basis of holding a license from another state or formerly having held a Texas license, may obtain one or more endorsements by providing proof acceptable to the Executive Director of previous experience refereeing contests in the class of endorsement(s) sought.
5. (e) After February 28, 2007, referees must have an endorsement for a class in order to referee events in that class.
6. (f) To obtain or renew a license, a referee must provide test results showing visual acuity in each eye of at least 20/40 corrected. The test must have been performed by a licensed Optometrist or licensed Ophthalmologist no more than one year before the application for licensure or license renewal is filed.

Source Note:The provisions of this §61.21 adopted to be effective February 1, 2006, 31 TexReg 481.