An Act To Regulate Boxing and Prizefighting in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0889
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: PETERSON, MASON, BICKFORD, CRAFTS, DOW, GILBERT, HUNT, PRESCOTT, TUTTLE, CRAVEN
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-G, 8 MRSA §521, 8 MRSA §522, 8 MRSA §523, 8 MRSA §524, 8 MRSA §525, 8 MRSA §526, 8 MRSA §529, 8 MRSA §532, 17-A MRSA §515

Legislative Document 
No. 889 
H.P. 656 
House of Representatives, March 7, 2011 
An Act To Regulate Boxing and Prizefighting in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative PETERSON of Rumford. 
Cosponsored by Senator MASON of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: BICKFORD of Auburn, CRAFTS of Lisbon, DOW of Waldoboro, GILBERT 
of Jay, HUNT of Buxton, PRESCOTT of Topsham, TUTTLE of Sanford, Senator: CRAVEN 
of Androscoggin. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§4-D, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §1, is 
amended to read: 
4-D.   
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA §521, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §2, is amended to 
read: 
1.  Authority. "Authority" means the Mixed Martial Arts  Combat Sports Authority 
of Maine created under section 522. 
Sec. 3.  8 MRSA §521, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 
3-A.  Boxing.  "Boxing" means a combative sport for compensation that features the 
use of gloved fists in attack and defense. 
Sec. 4.  8 MRSA §522, as amended by PL 2009, c. 582, §1, is further amended to 
read: 
§522.  Combat Sports Authority of Maine 
1.  Establishment. The Mixed Martial Arts Combat Sports 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 
and boxing competitions, exhibitions and events in the State as set forth in this chapter.  
A mixed martial arts or boxing 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 7 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 
Amusements and 
Sports 
Mixed Martial Arts 
Combat Sports 
Authority of Maine 
Legislative Per 
Diem and Expenses 
only Only 
MRSA c. 20 
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 and boxing 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.  The board may enter into contracts to obtain the assistance 
of staff sufficient to support operations of the board. 
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 
summary of the revenue and expenditures of the authority pursuant to subsection 7 and 
section 525. 
Sec. 5.  8 MRSA §523, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 582, §2 and affected 
by §9, is further amended to read: 
1.  Rules.  Adopt rules to protect the health and safety of authorized participants and 
the integrity of competition, as well as to establish a certification process authorizing 
participation in a mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event and set the 
fee schedules for all authorized participants.  A certificate authorizing participation in a 
mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event may be issued for one year 
or such other time period as may be fixed by rule under this chapter.  The board may 
establish requirements to ensure that a mixed martial arts or boxing competition, 
exhibition or event is not conducted unless a promoter's fee has been paid and that each 
competitor has been examined by a physician who has certified the competitor's fitness to 
participate in the mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules, as defined 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, including a requirement that a physician be 
present during a mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event; 
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 of facilities 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. 
Sec. 6.  8 MRSA §524, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §2, is amended to read: 
§524.  Promotion fees 
In addition to the requirements set by rule pursuant to section 523, a promoter of a 
mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event authorized under this 
chapter must pay a fee set by the authority in advance of the mixed martial arts or boxing 
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. 
Sec. 7.  8 MRSA §525, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §2, is amended to read: 
§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 Combat Sports 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. 
Sec. 8.  8 MRSA §526, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §2, is amended to read: 
§526.  Prohibited interests of officers, directors and employees 
A director of the authority or a spouse, domestic partner or dependent child of a 
director of the authority may not receive any direct personal benefit from the 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 or boxing activities if ownership or employment is 
made known to the authority and the director abstains from voting on matters relating to 
that participation. 
Sec. 9.  8 MRSA §529, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 582, §4, is amended to read: 
§529.  Powers of board 
1.  Inspections and investigations.  The board may enter and inspect the premises 
where a mixed martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event is to be conducted 
and question persons present and review documents to the extent it considers necessary to 
determine whether the event is in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under 
this chapter. 
2.  Other action.  The board may take all reasonable steps to ensure that a mixed 
martial arts or boxing competition, exhibition or event is conducted in accordance with 
this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter and take all other lawful action 
necessary and incidental to its purposes. 
Sec. 10.  8 MRSA §532, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 582, §7, is amended to read: 
§532.  Fines; enforcement 
The board may, after a hearing under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4, impose a fine 
of not more than $500 for each violation against a person who violates this chapter or 
rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or who participates in a mixed martial arts or 
boxing competition, exhibition or event without the certificate described under section 
523, subsection 1.  The Attorney General may bring an action in Superior Court to enjoin 
a mixed martial arts competition, exhibition or event from occurring for which the 
promoter's fee has not been paid or a participant who does not meet the qualifications of 
this chapter from participating in the competition, exhibition or event. 
Sec. 11.  17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 12.  17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 582, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
2-A.   This section does not apply to any mixed martial arts or boxing competition, 
exhibition or event authorized pursuant to Title 8, chapter 20 as long as rules have been 
adopted by the Mixed Martial Arts Combat Sports Authority of Maine pursuant to Title 8, 
chapter 20. 
Sec. 13.  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 Combat Sports Authority of Maine after September 1, 2011, 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. 14.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, chapter 20, in the chapter headnote, the words 
"mixed martial arts" are amended to read "mixed martial arts and boxing" and the Revisor 
of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the 
statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the law that creates the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine to 
include boxing and renames the authority the Combat Sports Authority of Maine.