An Act To Regulate Mixed Martial Arts Competitions, Exhibitions. and Events
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1089
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Deveiopment
Sponsors: PETERSON, MARRACHE, BERRY, COHEN, CONNOR, CRAFTS, HUNT, O'BRIEN, SMITH
Amends: 17-A MRSA §515, 7-A MRSA §515

Legislative Document 
No. 1089' 
House of Representatives, March '19,2009 
An Act To Regulate Mixed Martial Arts Competitions, Exhibitions. 
and Events 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Deveiopment suggested 
and ordered printed .. 
Presented by Representative PETERSON of Rumford. 
Cosponsored by Senator MARRACHE of Kennebec and 
17/~ /h. 7lIOL:~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
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Clerk 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CLEARY oflioulton, COHEN of Portland, 
CONNOR of Kennebunk, CRAFTS of Lisbon, HUNT of Buxton, O'BRIEN of Lincolnville, 
SMITH of Monmouth. 
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Printl!d em recycled p;tpcr 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. '17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is amended 
to read: 
2. This section shall does not apply to any boxing contest or exhibition: 
i'... Conducted by license andpennit of the Maine State Boxing Commission; OF 
B. Under the auspices of a nonprofit organization at which no admission charge is 
made. 
Sec. 2. t'7-A MRSA §515, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. This section does not apply to mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and 
events 'conducted by license of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRS A §14363 is enacted to read: 
§14363. Mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events 
1. 
Definition. 
For the purposes of this section, "mixed martial arts" means a 
combative sport that features a mixture of karate,jiu-jitsu, muay thai, tae lcwon do, 
boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, judo and striking and grappling techniques. 
2. License; oversight. A mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event may 
not be held within this State without a license issued by the department and in accordance 
with the rules adopted pursuant to this section. The department shall supervise and 
oversee a mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event in a manner that promotes 
mixed martial arts while protecting the public interest, ensuring the safety of all 
participants and spectators and achieving unifonnity in the rules governing participation 
in these sports within the State. 
. 3. Advisory council. The commissioner shall select niembers of the mixed martial 
arts community to serve on an advisory council and to consult with the commissioner 
concerning the regulation of mixed. martial arts. 
The advisory council may submit 
recommendations to the department concerning any matter, and the department may 
consider the recommendations in making its decisions. Membership on the council is not 
a conflict of interest regardless of the occupations or associations of the members. 
4. 
Ev~nt report. The promoter of a competition, event or exhibit subject to the 
requirements of this section shall file an event report with the department within 48 hours 
of the event. Event reports must include: 
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A. The promoter's identity and license number; 
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B. The participants' identities; 
C. The facility at which the event was held; 
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D. 
A detailed factual description of any incident that required the inU11ediate 
intervention of the attending: physician during an event. including stopping the event 
or taking: dlsciplinarv action; 
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E. When necessmy, a reconU11endation to the department regarding any need for 
disciplinary action; and 
F. 
A celiification that the officials, participants and event confonned to the 
requirements of this section and rules adopted pursuant to this section. 
5. 
Rules~ The Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration within the 
department may· establish by rule the fees under this section in amounts that are 
reasonable and necessmy for their respective purposes for a license for a tenn of one year 
from date of issliance to a. person, club, association or corporation that is properly 
qualified to promote and conduct mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events 
in accordance with this section. 
The department may adopt rules governing officials in mixed martial arts competitions, 
exhibitions ·and events, including, but not limited to, referees, judges, contestants, 
promoters, managers, physicians, timekeepers and Imockdown timekeepers. These rules 
may include, but are not limited to,· licensing requirements, age limits and physical 
condition of participants, lengths of contests and rounds, specifications of the facilities 
and equiplnent used in contests and uniforms of contestants and referees, scoring of . 
decisions, standards of weight and weighing of contestants and the manner of 
presentation of closed-circuit television events. The department may adopt rules requiring 
health and accident insurance providing coverage in the event of injury or death for 
persons competing in mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events subject to 
this section. This insurance, if required, must comply with standards prescribed by the 
Superintendent of Insurance. 
. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
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6. Violation. A person who violates this section is subject to the provisions of Title 
10, section 8003-C. 
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SUMMARY 
This bill allows a mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event to be held in the 
State as long as a license is issued by the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation. It requires the department to superv.ise and oversee mixed martial arts 
competitions, exhibitions or events held within the State in a manner ~hat promotes mixed 
martial arts while protecting the public interest. The bill requires the Commissioner of 
Professional and Financial Regulation to select members of the mixed martial arts 
community to serve 'on an advisory council and to consult with the 'commissioner 
concerning the regulation of mixed martial arts. It requires these events to be held in 
accordance with the rules adopted by the department.