An Act To Regulate Mixed Martial Arts Competitions, Exhibitions and Events
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1089
Committee Amendment CA_A_H493 (House)
Amends: 17-A MRSA §515

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 751, L.D. 1089, Bill, "An Act To 
Regulate Mixed Martial Arts Competitions, Exhibitions and Events" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRS A §12004-G, sub-§4-D is enacted to read: 
4-D. 
Amusements and 
Mixed Martial Arts 
Expenses only 
Sports 
Authority of Maine 
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA c. 20 is enacted to read: 
§521. Definitions 
CHAPTER 20 
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS 
MRSA c. 20 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings. 
1. Authority. "Authority" means the Mixed Maliial Arts Authority of Maine created 
under section 522. 
2. Authorized participants. "Authorized participants" means competitors, officials, 
referees, judges, promoters, managers, physicians, timekeepers and knock-down 
timekeepers. 
3. Board. "Board" means the board of directors of the authority. 
Page I - 124LR1 571 (02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITfEE AMENDMENT 'A" to H.P. 751, L.D. 1089 
4. 
Mixed martial arts. "Mixed martial arts" means a combative sport for. 
compensation that features a mixture of karate, iiu-iitsu, muay thai, tae kwon do, boxing, 
kick boxfng, wrestling, judo and striking and grappling techniques. 
§522. Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine 
1. Establishment. The Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine, as established in 
Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-D, is a body corporate and politic and a public 
instrumentality of the State. The exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this 
chapter constitutes the performance of essential governmental functions. 
2. Purpose. The authority is established to regulate and promote mixed martial arts 
competitions, exhibitions and events in the State as set forth in this chapter. A mixed 
martial arts competition, exhibition or event may not be held in the State prior to the 
adoption of rules pursuant to this chapter. 
3. Board of directors. The authority is governed and its powers exercised by a board 
of directors. The board consists of 5 voting members appointed by the Governor. 
Immediately after their appointments, the members of the authority shall assume their 
duties. All board members serve as agents of the authority for purposes of service of 
process. 
4. Officers. The board shall elect a chair, a secretary and a treasurer from among its 
members. 
. 
5. Terms; vacancy. Members of the authority are appointed to 3-year terms. A 
vacancy in the authority does not impair the right of a quorum of the members to exercise 
all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority. 
In the event of vacancy 
occurring in the membership, the Governor shall appoint a replacement member for the 
remainder of that term. Each member of the authority serves until that member's 
successor is appointed and qualified. A member of the authority is eligible for 
reappointment. 
6. Bylaws and business plan. The board shall adopt bylaws for the governance of 
the authority and the conduct of its affairs and may amend and revoke the bylaws as 
necessary. The board shall adopt a business plan setting forth goals, desired outcomes and 
performance expectations for the authority and shall update the business plan on an 
. annual basis. 
7. Revenue and expenditures. The board may receive revenue from mixed martial 
arts competitions, exhibitions and events, as well as from the sale of goods and 
merchandise, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to sections 523 and 524. The 
authority may apply for, solicit and receive grants, donations and gifts and may receive 
appropriations from the State and funds from other governmental authorities. All funds 
received must be spent solely to assist with operational expenses in furtherance of the 
purpose of the authority. 
8. Annual report. By March 15th of each year, beginning in 2010, the authority 
shall provide an annual report on its activities to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development 
matters. The report must include an evaluation of the authority'S success in meeting the 
goals, outcomes and performance expectations contained in its business plan, as well as a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMIITEE AMENDMENT .. 4, to H,P, 751, L.D: 1089 
summary of the revenue and expenditures of the authority pursuant to subsection 7 and 
section 525. 
§523. Powers of authority 
In furtherance of its purpose, the authority shall, no later than March 1, 2010: 
1. Rules. Adopt rules to protect the health and safety of participants and the 
integrity of competition, as well as to set the fee schedules for all authorized participants. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules, as defi'ned in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The authority's rules must include, but are not limited to, 
the following: 
A. Rules of competition, weighing of participants and scoring of decisions; 
B. Length of contests and rounds; 
C. Availability of medical services; 
D. Age limits, which must include a minimum age of not less than 18 years; 
E. Weight limits and classification of participants; 
F. Physical condition of participants; 
G. Qualifications of referees and other authorized participants; 
H. Uniforms, attire, safety gear and equipment of authorized participants; 
I. Specifications offacilities and equipment; and 
J. Requirements for health and accident insurance providing coverage in the event of 
injury or death to authorized participants. This coverage must comply with standards 
prescribed by the Superintendent of Insurance; and 
2. 
Other action. 
Take all other lawful action necessary and incidental to its 
purposes. 
§524. Promotion fees 
In addition to the requirements set by rule pursuant to section 523, a promoter of a 
mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event authorized under this chapter must 
pay a fee set by the authority in advance of the mixed martial arts competition, exhibition 
or event. 
A promoter who fails to pay the fee required pursuant to this section is 
prohibited from promoting the competition as well as any further competitions, 
exhibitions or events held under this chapter until the fee and any penalties are paid in full 
or satisfactory arrangements are made with the authority. 
§525. Fund established; excess revenue to be deposited into General Fund 
The authority shall establish and maintain a reserve fund called the "Mixed Martial 
Arts Reserve Fund" and shall deposit in the fund all money received pursuant to section 
522, as well as any other money or funds from any other sources. 
At the close of each 
fiscal year, the State Controller shall transfer from the fund any revenue in excess of 
operating expenses to the General Fund. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 751, L.D. 1089 
§526. Prohibited interests of officers, directors and employees 
A director of the authority or a spOtise, ao~riestic partner or dependent child of a 
director of the authority may not receive any direct personal benefit from th'e activities or 
undertakings of the authority. This section does not prohibit corporations or other entities 
with which a director is associated by reason of ownership or employment from 
participating in mixed martial arts activities if ownership or employment is made known 
to the authority and the director abstains from voting on matters relating to that 
participation. 
§527. Limitations of powers 
'10 
The authority may not enter into contracts, obligations or commitments of any kind 
on behalf of the State or any of its agencies. No contract, obligation, commitment, 
agreement, debt, act or undertaking of the authority of any nature binds the State or any 
of its agencies. 
§528. Penalty 
A person who fails to comply with the rules adopted by the authority may be subject 
to disqualification from participation in, or promotion of, mixed martial arts events. 
Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
. 18 
2-A. Effective March 1, 2010, this section does not apply to any mixed martial arts 
competition, exhibition or event authorized pursuant to Title 8, chapter 20 as long as rules 
have been adopted by the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine pursuant to Title 8, 
chapter 20. 
Sec. 4. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, 
section 522, subsection 5, in making the original appointments to the board of directors of 
the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine, the Governor shall appoint members to terms 
of less than 3 years in order to stagger the terms. A successor's term is 3 years from the 
date of the expiration of the original term, regardless of the date of appointment. 
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made .. 
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AUTHORITY OF MAINE 
Mixed Martial Arts Reserve Fund N079 
Initiative: Provides a base allocation in the event that funds are received to support the 
operating expenses of the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2009-10 
$500 
$500 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2010-11 
$500 
$500 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 751, L.D. 1089 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and it replaces the bill. It 
establishes the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine as a body corporate and politic 
and a public. instrumentality of the State to regulate and promote mixed martial arts 
competitions, exhibitions and events in the State and removes any criminal prohibition 
for any such event authorized by the .authority. It provides that the authority is governed 
and its. powers exercised by a board of directors that consists of 5 voting members 
appointed by the Governor. 
It establishes the Mixed Martial Arts Reserve Fund and 
allows the board to receive revenue from mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and 
events, as well as from the sale of goods and merchandise and allows the authority to 
apply for, solicit and receive grants, donations and gifts and to receive appropriations 
from the State and funds from other governmental authorities. It requires that all funds 
received must be spent solely to assist with operational expenses. It requires the State 
Controller at the close of each fiscal year to transfer from the fund any revenue in excess 
of operating expenses to the General Fund. 
It also requires the authority to adopt rules no later than March 1, 2010 to protect the 
health and safety of participants and the integrity of competition, as well as to set the fee 
schedules for all authorized participants. The rules must include rules of competition, . 
weighing of participants, scoring of decisions, length of contests and rounds, availability 
of medical services, age limits, weight limits and classification of participants, physical 
condition of participants, qualifications of referees and other authorized participants, 
uniforms, attire, safety gear and equipment of participants, referees and other officials, 
specifications of facilities and equipment and requirements for health and accident 
insurance providing coverage in the event of injury or death to authorized participants. 
It requires a promoter of a mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event to pay 
a fee set by the authority in advance of the mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or 
event. In the event a promoter fails to pay the required fee, the promoter is prohibited 
from promoting this competition and any further competitions, exhibitions or events until 
the fees and any penalties are paid in full or satisfactory arrangements are made with the 
authority . 
It requires the authority to submit an annual report by March 15th of each year 
beginning in 2010 on its activities to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over business, research and economic development matters, including 
an evaluation of the authority's success in meeting the goals, outcomes and performance 
expectations contained in its business plan. 
This amendment also allows a mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event to 
be held in the State effective March 1, 2010, as long as the authority has adopted the rules 
required by this chapter. It also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
PageS - 124LRlS71(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: OS/24/09 ;:Wac.. 
LD 1089 
LR 1571(02) 
An Act To Regulate Mixed Martial Arts Competitions, Exhibitions and Events 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,4" 
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium revenue increase - General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
2009-10 
$500 
Reduceses Class E crimes; decreases correctional and judicial costs . 
. A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
2010-11 
$500 
Projections 
2011-12 
$500 
Projections 
2012-13 
$500 
This bill establishes the Mixed Martial Arts Reserve Fund and includes base Other Special Revenue Funds allocations 
of $500 per year beginning in fiscal year 2009-10 to the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine in the event that funds 
are received from competitions, exhibitions and events as well as the sale of goods and merchandise. 
This legislation also requires the State Controller to transfer from the reserve fund to the General Fund any revenue 
received by the Authority in excess of operating expenses at the end of each fiscal year. The amount can not be 
determined at this time. 
LR1571 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
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