An Act to Define K1ckboxmg" and "Muay Thai" in the Laws Governing Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0950
Committee Amendment CA_A_H170 (House)
Amends: 8 MRSA §521, 8 MRSA §522, 8 MRSA §523, 8 MRSA §524, 8 MRSA §526, 8 MRSA §529, 8 MRSA §532, 17-A MRSA §515

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,A" to HP 597, L D 950, "An Act to Define 
"K1ckboxmg" and "Muay Thai" in the Laws Governing Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following 
'An Act to Authorize Kickboxing and Muay Thai Competition Under the Combat 
Sports Authority of Maine' 
Amend the btll by stnking out everythmg after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following 
'Sec. 1. 8 MRSA c. 20, headnote is amended to read· 
CHAPTER20 
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, MUAY THAI, KICKBOXING AND BOXING 
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §521, sub-§3-B is enacted to read 
3-B. Kickboxing. "Kickboxing" means a combative sport that is a form ofboxmg m 
which blows are delivered with the hand and any part of the leg below the hip, mcludmg 
the bare foot, with the mtent to disable or cause injury to an opponent in a contest, 
exhib1t1on or event 
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §521, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 352, §2, 1s amended to 
read· 
4. 
Mixed martial arts. 
"Mixed martial arts" means a combative sport for 
compensation that featmes a mixture of karate, JlU-Jttsu, muay that Muay That, tae kwon 
do, boxing, k1ek bmung kickboxing. wrestling, Judo and striking and grapphng techniques 
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §521, sub-§5 1s enacted to read· 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to HP 597, L D 950 
5. Muay Thai. "Muay That" means a combative sport that ts a form of boxmg m 
which blows are dehvered with the fist. elbow, knee and shm and m which various 
clinchmg techniques are employed, with the mtent to disable or cause m1uzy to an opponent 
m a contest, exhib1t1on or event 
Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §522, sub--§2, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §4, ts further 
amended to read 
2. Purpose. The authority ts established to regulate and promote mixed martial arts.,_ 
Muay That, ktckboxmg and boxmg compet1ttons, exh1b1t1ons and events m the State as set 
forth m this chapter A mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxmg or boxmg competition, 
exlubttion or event may not be held m the State prior to the adoption of rules pursuant to 
this chapter 
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §522, sub--§7, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §4, 1s furthe1 
amended to read. 
7. Revenue and expenditures. The board may receive revenue from mixed martial 
arts, Muay That, ktckboxmg and boxmg competitions, exhibitions and events, as well as 
from the sale of goods and merchandise, m accordance with rules adopted pursuant to 
secttons 523 and 524 The authority may apply fot, sohctt and receive grants, donations 
and gifts and may receive appropriations from the State and funds from other governmental 
authorttles All funds received must be spent solely to assist with operational expenses m 
furtherance of the purpose of the authority Funds may be used to compensate members of 
the authority for per diem and expenses m accordance with the board's bylaws The board 
may enter mto contracts to obtain the assistance of staff sufficient to support operations of 
the board 
Sec. 7. 8 MRSA §523, sub--§1, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §5, 1s further 
amended to read 
1. Rules. Adopt rules to protect the health and safety of authonzed participants and 
the mtegrity of compettt1on, as well as to estabhsh a certification pt ocess authonzing 
parttc1pat1on in a mixed martial arts, Muay That, kickboxmg or boxing competition, 
exhibition or event and set the fee schedules for all authorized participants A certificate 
authortzmg partic1pat10n m a mixed martial arts, Muay That, k1ckboxmg 01 boxmg 
compet1t10n, exh1b1tton or event may be issued for one year or such other time pertod as 
may be fixed by rule under this chapter The board may estabhsh requirements to ensure 
that a mixed martial arts, Muay That. kickboxmg or boxmg competition, exhibition or event 
1s not conducted unless a promoter's fee has been paid and that each competitor has been 
examined by a phys1c1an who has certified the competitor's fitness to participate m the 
mixed martial arts, Muay That, kxckboxmg or boxmg competition, exh1b1tton or event. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine techmcal rules, as defined m Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A Notwithstandmg this subsection, rules estabhshmg fees, 
includmg promotion fees pursuant to section 524, are maJor substantive rules as defined m 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A The authority's rules must mclude, but are not hm1ted 
to, the followmg 
A Rules of competition, weighmg of participants and scormg of decisions, 
B Length of contests and rounds; 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"}'( to HP 597, L D 950 
C A vatlab1hty of medical services, includmg a requirement that a phys1c1an be present 
durmg a mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, k1ckboxmg or boxmg competition, exh1bit1on 
or event, 
D Age hmits, which must mclude a mm1mum age of not less than 18 years, 
E Weight hmits and classification of participants, 
F Physical condition of participants, 
G Qualifications of referees and other authorized participants, 
H Umforms, attire, safety gear and equipment of authorized part1c1pants, 
I Specifications of facilities and equipment, and 
J Requirements for health and accident insurance prov1dmg coverage in the event of 
mJury or death to authorized participants This coverage must comply with standards 
presc11bed by the Supermtendent of Insurance. 
Sec. 8. 8 MRSA §524, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §6, 1s further amended to 
read 
§524. Promotion fees 
In add1t1on to the requirements set by rule pursuant to sect10n 523, a promoter of a 
mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, k1ckboxmg or boxmg competition, exhibition or event 
authorized under this chapter must pay a fee set by the authority in advance of the mixed 
martial arts, Muay Thai, k1ckboxmg or boxmg competit10n, exh1b1t10n or event 
A 
pt omoter who fails to pay the fee required pursuant to this section 1s 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 m full or satisfactory 
arrangements are made with the authority 
Sec. 9. 8 MRSA §526, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §8, 1s further 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 d1rectoi 
of the authority may not receive any direct personal benefit from the activities 01 
undertakmgs of the authonty This section does not proh1b1t corporations or other entities 
with which a director 1s associated by reason of ownership or employment from 
pru11c1patmg in mixed martial arts, Muay That, k1ckboxmg or boxmg act1v1t1es 1f ownership 
or employment 1s made known to the authority and the director abstams from votmg on 
matters relatmg to that part1cipat10n A director of the authority must comply with the 
requirements of Title 5, section 18 
Sec. 10. 8 MRSA §529, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §9, 1s further amended to 
read 
§529. Powers of board 
1. Inspections and invest~gations. The board may enter and mspect the premises 
where a mixed martial arts, Muay That, ktckboxmg or boxmg competition, exh1b1t1on or 
event 1s to be conducted and question persons present and review documents' to the extent 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMIITEE AMENDMENT "A" to HP 597, L D 950 
it considers necessary to determme whether the event is m 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, Muay Thai, kickboxmg or boxmg competition, exhibition or event is 
conducted m accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter and take all 
other lawful action necessary and mcidental to its purposes. 
Sec.11. 8 MRSA §532, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §10, is further 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 v10lation agamst a person who violates this chapter or rules 
adopted pursuant to this chapter or who part1eipates m a mixed martial arts, Muay That, 
ktckboxmg or boxmg competition, exhibition or event without the certificate described 
under section 523, subsection 1 The Attorney General may brmg an action m Superior 
Court to enJom a mixed martial arts, Muay That, kickboxmg or boxmg competition, 
exhib1t1on or event from occurrmg for which the promoter's fee has not been paid or a 
parttcipant who does not meet the quahficat1ons of this chapter from part1cipatmg m the 
competition, exhibition or event 
Sec. 12. 17-A MRSA §515, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2011, c 305, §12, is 
further amended to read 
2-A. This section does not apply to any mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxmg or 
boxmg competition, exhibition or event authorized pursuant to Title 8, chapter 20 as long 
as rules have been adopted by the Combat Sports Authority of Mame pursuant to Title 8, 
chapter 20' 
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
numbe1 to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It adds defimttons for "kickboxmg" and "Muay 
Tha1" to the laws govemmg mixed martial arts and boxmg, brmgs k1ckboxmg and Muay 
Thai under the Jurisdiction of the Combat Sports Authority of Mame and exempts 
kickboxmg and Muay Thai, as authorized by the authority, from the crime of unlawful prize 
fighting 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 04/27/23 ::tPae 
LD950 
LR 834(02) 
An Act to Define "Kickboxing" and "Muay Thai" in the Laws Governing Mixed Martial Arts and 
Boxing 
Fiscal Note for BIii as Amended by Committee Amendment ,I} { H--/ 7 0) 
Committee: Innovation, Development, Econom1c Advancement and Business 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential cuITent bienmum revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
There may be a mmor reduct10n of woikload associated with the mmunal number of cases that will no longer be filed 
m the court system. 
A 1 educt10n m fine revenue associated with exemptmg kickboxmg and Muay Thai from the crnne of unlawful pnze 
fightmg will decrease General Fund and other dedicated revenue by mmor amounts 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Addmg kickboxmg and Muay That to the regulatory oversight responsibilities of the Combat Sports Authonty of 
Mame may mcrease the amount of revenue collected for compet1t10ns and events staged by the authonty By statute, 
any funds m excess of operatmg expenses must be transferred from the authonty's reserve fund to the General Fund at 
the end of each fiscal year The amount can not be determmed at this time 
Any additional costs to the Department of the Attorney General can be absorbed ut1hzmg ex1st111g budgeted resources 
LR0834(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1