From the USAF:
All USA Fencing members are advised that t.124 of the USA Fencing Rulebook, “Unwillingness to Fight” has been updated and will be in use at all USA Fencing events beginning on Feb. 14, 2019, including the 2019 Junior Olympic Championships. This rule change is being made in accordance with the changes made by the Federation Internationale d’Escrime to the FIE Rulebook, effective Jan. 1, 2019.
The following is a summary of the primary changes to t.124 in the USA Fencing Rulebook:
- Single
criteria for “Unwillingness to fight”: There is
now only one criterion for applying t.124, and that is one minute of
elapsed bout time without a hit scored (or a hit scored off-target in
foil). It is the duty of the referee to track the time since the last hit
and apply t.124 as necessary.
- t.124 no
longer advances the bout to the next period in individual DE matches, or
the next relay in team matches. After a referee has applied
t.124 and issued the requisite P-Cards, the bout or relay continues as
normal.
- P-Cards are
not cumulative with other penalties. P-Card
penalties exist independently of other penalties incurred during a bout.
For example, a fencer with a P-Yellow Card and no other penalties who
commits a Group 1 offense should be sanctioned with a Yellow Card.
- P-Black Cards in team events: A P-Black Card in a team event disqualifies the fencer currently on the strip. That fencer can be replaced by the reserve if the reserve is available (i.e. they have not already been substituted during that match), and the team can continue to fence. Any team fencer sanctioned by a P-Black Card is disqualified for the remainder of the event and cannot participate in subsequent matches, however.
The Academy of Fencing Master Blog provides a nice overview of the new rules and you can find a link to it below: