An Act To Allow Mixed Martial Arts Competitions in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0370
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: TUTTLE, PERRY, DIAMOND, GREELEY, HANLEY, WHEELER, DAVIS, GERZOFSKY
Amends: 17-A MRSA §515

Legislative Document 
No. 370 
H.P.277 
House of Representatives, February 5,2009 
An Act To Allow Mixed Martial Arts Competitions in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
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Presented by Representative TUTTLE of Sanford. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator PERRY of Penobscot, Senator DIAMOND of Cumberland and 
Representatives: GREELEY of Levant, HANLEY of Gardiner, HASKELL ofPOliland, 
WHEELER of Kittery, Senators: DAVIS of Cumberland, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland. 
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA c. 20 is enacted to read: 
CHAPTER 20 
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS 
§511. Mixed martial arts 
A mixed martial arts match, competition or exhibition that is licensed may be 
held or conducted within this State in accordance with tIus chapter and the rules 
adopted pursuant to this chapter. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt 
routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement 
this chapter. 
For the purposes of this section, "mixed martial arts" means a no-holds-barred, 
full-contact combat sport that includes a mixture of boxing, wrestling and martial arts 
traditions, including striking and grappling techniques. 
§512. Fees; prosecutions 
A municipality may grant a license for a mixed martial arts match, competition or 
exhibition under section 511 upon receiving a sum that the municipality determines 
proper, 24 hours or more being allowed for the match, competition or exhibition as 
the municipality may determine. The municipality shall prosecute, by complaint for 
the use of the municipality, all violations of this chapter. 
A mixed martial arts match, competition or exhibition may not operate in this 
State without fIrst paying a license fee for each calendar year. Application for the 
license must be made to the Commissioner of Public Safety and must contain the 
name of the person holding or conducting the mixed martial arts matches, 
competitions and exhibitions and the names of the cities and towns in which the 
mixed martial arts matches, competitions and exhibitions are to be held or conducted. 
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall establish by rule the fee for a mixed 
martial arts match, competition or exhibition license. 
The exlubiting of any mixed martial arts match, competition or exllibition 
contrary to this section is a civil violation, and the person, manager or offIcer in 
charge of the mixed martial arts match, competition or exl1ibition within the State is 
subject to a fIne of not more than $1,000. The District Court in the county where a 
mixed martial arts match, competition or exhibition is held has jurisdiction over the 
violation. 
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is 
amended to read: 
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2. 
This section 5hall does not apply to any mixed martial arts as dermed by 
Title 8, section 511 or boxing contest or exhibition: 
A 
T.1. 
Conducted by license and permit of the Maine State BmEing Commission; or 
B. 
Under the auspices of a nonprofit organization at which no admission charge 
is made. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows mixed martial arts matches, competitions and exhibitions to be 
held in Maine.