Signed by Governor Dan Malloy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes mixed martial arts events, effective October 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to adopt regulations to regulate the conduct, supervision, and safety of mixed martial arts matches including the following (Sec. 1):
• Licensing of the sponsors of and the participants in such matches; and 
• Establishing a reasonable fee for the issuance of licenses to such sponsors and participants.

• Defines “mixed martial arts” as unarmed combat involving the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts and includes grappling, kicking, jujitsu, and striking (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any mixed martial arts match from exceeding 5 rounds, and requires each round to be followed by a period of rest of at least 1 minute (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits an individual from betting or wagering upon the result of any mixed martial arts matches (Sec. 13).

• Prohibits an individual under 18 years of age from engaging in any professional mixed martial arts match (Sec. 14).

• Prohibits mixed martial arts matches from being held on any of the following days (Sec. 9):
• Christmas Day;
• Good Friday;
• Memorial Day; or
• Veterans’ Day.

• Establishes a 5 percent tax on total receipts after the deduction of federal taxes from paid admissions to a mixed martial arts match (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes mixed martial arts events, effective October 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection to adopt regulations to regulate the conduct, supervision, and safety of mixed martial arts matches including the following (Sec. 1):
• Licensing of the sponsors of and the participants in such matches; and 
• Establishing a reasonable fee for the issuance of licenses to such sponsors and participants.

• Defines “mixed martial arts” as unarmed combat involving the use of a combination of techniques from different disciplines of the martial arts and includes grappling, kicking, jujitsu, and striking (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any mixed martial arts match from exceeding 5 rounds, and requires each round to be followed by a period of rest of at least 1 minute (Sec. 7).

• Prohibits an individual from betting or wagering upon the result of any mixed martial arts matches (Sec. 13).

• Prohibits an individual under 18 years of age from engaging in any professional mixed martial arts match (Sec. 14).

• Prohibits mixed martial arts matches from being held on any of the following days (Sec. 9):
• Christmas Day;
• Good Friday;
• Memorial Day; or
• Veterans’ Day.

• Establishes a 5 percent tax on total receipts after the deduction of federal taxes from paid admissions to a mixed martial arts match (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text