Friday, September 17, 2010
Endorsed by SAM
I was pleased to earn the endorsement of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM) in my race for re-election. Some candidates disregard the endorsement process and dismiss it as unimportant, but I don't share that opinion. Earning the SAM endorsement demonstrates that my voting record in the last session and my positions on the issues line up with the thinking of this important advocacy group -- one with lots of members in the River Valley. I am proud to have been endorsed by SAM, and I have sought the endorsement of other groups that are important to River Valley voters. The most important endorsement will be November 2nd, when I hope that the majority of District 92 voters will give me their vote so I can have the honor of continuing to serve. Thank you for your support. --Matt
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Summer '10 Update
Although the 124th Maine Legislature adjourned back in April, there is still plenty of work to be done during the off-season and the summer of 2010 has been no exception.
In July I drove to Washington D.C. to meet on Capitol Hill one-on-one with each of the four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation; Representatives Michaud and Pingree and Senators Snowe and Collins.
The major focus of our discussion was, of course, jobs and the economy. I stressed my firm belief in the need to strengthen our existing manufacturing base while positioning Maine to be a part of the future employment market. There was little disagreement amongst us that we constantly need to be seeking ways to keep Maine’s bread-and-butter paper producing roots intact while simultaneously improving our educational system so that the next generation is well prepared for the science, technology, and engineering employment opportunities for which the demand is always increasing.
Another talking point during my discussions came directly from my conversations with local providers and constituents. I asked each member of our delegation to support the extension of the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which is used to calculate the amount of Federal share of state expenditures for services. Extending FMAP as part of the ongoing economic stimulus is essential to maintain the social services safety net for people with a disability and seniors. Given our demographics and economics, many Maine citizens depend upon support from the federal and state government to live independently. I am committed to the most sustainable and cost-efficient service delivery system, but that system must be adequately funded -- and in this economic downturn greater participation by the federal government is essential to bridge the gap as the Maine economy recovers.
I also stressed that now is the time to promote full funding of the federal portion of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Maine’s public schools are struggling with the impacts of state budget cuts that have reduced state aid to education in light of declining state revenues. One of the largest expenses for schools is the money spent to serve children with special educational needs. This is also a very vulnerable population where an early investment can pay lifelong dividends for the individual as well as society as a whole. When the IDEA was passed, creating specific mandates for states and local schools, the federal government agreed to pay its share of the costs associated with those mandates. That promise has never been kept. The federal government is providing local school districts with just under 20 percent of its commitment rather than the 40 percent specified by the law, creating a $10.6 billion shortfall for states and local school districts. I pointed out that now is a perfect time for the federal government to honor those commitments by fully funding special education mandates for local schools and that H.R. 3578/S. 1652 is an appropriate mechanism to accomplish this funding.
The final issue I raised during our discussions was the fact that as a result of our involvement in two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the number of young Maine citizens with serious disabilities is increasing. We owe an enormous debt to these wounded warriors, and we must make adequate investments to insure that we support them now that they have made a significant sacrifice for their country. Not only must we insure that the resources are available through our Veteran’s facilities, but we must also insure that there are adequate resources in the broader community to support their full re-integration into community life. Simply put, we must invest directly in our soldiers who are returning with some type of disability, but we must also invest more broadly in the communities that will continue to serve them. Such investments will create the largest possible return.
On the last day of my visit to Washington D.C, I responded to an invitation to present at the National Council of Independent Living’s (NCIL) Annual Conference on the importance of each of us as citizens taking a role to access and influence the lawmaking process. NCIL is the longest-running cross-disability, grassroots organization in the nation. This year their annual conference was attended by over 700 people. I was honored to be invited and excited to share with them the progress we’ve made in Maine in promoting systems change in areas such as home and community based long-term supportive services.
I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy start to the school year. With a fresh start comes a renewed sense of hope and new opportunities to succeed. Good luck in all of your endeavors this academic year and I look forward to watching everyone work hard in the classroom and on the sports field.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Representative.
In July I drove to Washington D.C. to meet on Capitol Hill one-on-one with each of the four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation; Representatives Michaud and Pingree and Senators Snowe and Collins.
The major focus of our discussion was, of course, jobs and the economy. I stressed my firm belief in the need to strengthen our existing manufacturing base while positioning Maine to be a part of the future employment market. There was little disagreement amongst us that we constantly need to be seeking ways to keep Maine’s bread-and-butter paper producing roots intact while simultaneously improving our educational system so that the next generation is well prepared for the science, technology, and engineering employment opportunities for which the demand is always increasing.
Another talking point during my discussions came directly from my conversations with local providers and constituents. I asked each member of our delegation to support the extension of the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which is used to calculate the amount of Federal share of state expenditures for services. Extending FMAP as part of the ongoing economic stimulus is essential to maintain the social services safety net for people with a disability and seniors. Given our demographics and economics, many Maine citizens depend upon support from the federal and state government to live independently. I am committed to the most sustainable and cost-efficient service delivery system, but that system must be adequately funded -- and in this economic downturn greater participation by the federal government is essential to bridge the gap as the Maine economy recovers.
I also stressed that now is the time to promote full funding of the federal portion of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Maine’s public schools are struggling with the impacts of state budget cuts that have reduced state aid to education in light of declining state revenues. One of the largest expenses for schools is the money spent to serve children with special educational needs. This is also a very vulnerable population where an early investment can pay lifelong dividends for the individual as well as society as a whole. When the IDEA was passed, creating specific mandates for states and local schools, the federal government agreed to pay its share of the costs associated with those mandates. That promise has never been kept. The federal government is providing local school districts with just under 20 percent of its commitment rather than the 40 percent specified by the law, creating a $10.6 billion shortfall for states and local school districts. I pointed out that now is a perfect time for the federal government to honor those commitments by fully funding special education mandates for local schools and that H.R. 3578/S. 1652 is an appropriate mechanism to accomplish this funding.
The final issue I raised during our discussions was the fact that as a result of our involvement in two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the number of young Maine citizens with serious disabilities is increasing. We owe an enormous debt to these wounded warriors, and we must make adequate investments to insure that we support them now that they have made a significant sacrifice for their country. Not only must we insure that the resources are available through our Veteran’s facilities, but we must also insure that there are adequate resources in the broader community to support their full re-integration into community life. Simply put, we must invest directly in our soldiers who are returning with some type of disability, but we must also invest more broadly in the communities that will continue to serve them. Such investments will create the largest possible return.
On the last day of my visit to Washington D.C, I responded to an invitation to present at the National Council of Independent Living’s (NCIL) Annual Conference on the importance of each of us as citizens taking a role to access and influence the lawmaking process. NCIL is the longest-running cross-disability, grassroots organization in the nation. This year their annual conference was attended by over 700 people. I was honored to be invited and excited to share with them the progress we’ve made in Maine in promoting systems change in areas such as home and community based long-term supportive services.
I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy start to the school year. With a fresh start comes a renewed sense of hope and new opportunities to succeed. Good luck in all of your endeavors this academic year and I look forward to watching everyone work hard in the classroom and on the sports field.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Representative.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Peterson Endorsed by Fire Fighters
The Professional Fire Fighters of Maine (PFFM) has endorsed Matt Peterson in his run for re-election to continue serving House District 92 in the Maine Legislature. The decision to endorse Peterson was made based upon his voting record in the 124th Maine Legislature and his responses to the PFFM questionnaire.
"I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of an organization that plays such a vital role in maintaining the health and safety of our communities," Peterson said. "Fire fighters put their lives on the line to serve us and I'm glad that my voting record on the issues that are important to them reflects my respect and admiration for what they do for Maine people day-in and day-out."
For more information visit http://pffmaine.org/.
"I am thrilled to receive the endorsement of an organization that plays such a vital role in maintaining the health and safety of our communities," Peterson said. "Fire fighters put their lives on the line to serve us and I'm glad that my voting record on the issues that are important to them reflects my respect and admiration for what they do for Maine people day-in and day-out."
For more information visit http://pffmaine.org/.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Peterson Endorsed by Teachers
The Maine Education Association (MEA), Maine's professional advocacy organization for over 25,000 Maine educators, has endorsed Representative Matt Peterson in his bid for re-election to continue serving House District 92 in the Maine Legislature. Endorsements were given to candidates who demonstrated strong support for public education, for the well-being of Maine's students, and for the best interests of Maine's dedicated education workforce.
"Being a product of Maine's public schools and coming from a family of educators, I understand the need for a strong educational system," Peterson said. "I also respect that there aren't any quick fixes or magic bullets and that just giving a child a computer does not make him or her a motivated learner. Teachers play a priceless role in the process--and as individuals, families and as a state we need to support them in their efforts to give our children a quality education."
For more information visit http://www.maine.nea.org/.
"Being a product of Maine's public schools and coming from a family of educators, I understand the need for a strong educational system," Peterson said. "I also respect that there aren't any quick fixes or magic bullets and that just giving a child a computer does not make him or her a motivated learner. Teachers play a priceless role in the process--and as individuals, families and as a state we need to support them in their efforts to give our children a quality education."
For more information visit http://www.maine.nea.org/.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Presentation to Rumford Board of Selectmen 8/5/2010
One of the best parts of the job of being a legislator is getting to learn about a lot of the details that make up the funding patterns for state and local government. I had no idea about charges mandated to municipalities by the state in order to offset the cost of fire protection from a publically operated and regulated water district. Selectman Buccina brought this to my attention a couple of months ago when he asked why Rumford had to pay the water district a mandated fire protection charge that is governed by the Public Utilities Commission.
It was a great question, and I didn’t have the answer, so I set up a meeting with PUC staff to get some history and background on this charge. Selectman Buccina and I met with PUC staff on June 25th, and they were ready for us. It seems like we are not the first to raise this question and look for alternatives to this mandated charge.
Here are some of the things we learned:
• As far as the state is concerned fire protection is the main purpose for any municipal water system, with providing water for other uses (residential of commercial) are all secondary.
• Since fire protection is the primary rationale for creating, funding and regulating a municipal water system -- it must be built to produce flows that are adequate to meet fire protection demands -- and for small systems that means the total system is significantly “overbuilt” were it to be compared to a system just to deliver water to homes and businesses.
• The assessment to the municipality is based on a formula that has been developed over many years -- starting in 1888 -- with the most recent study finished in the late 1980’s. That resulted in Chapter 69 of the PUC rules which establishes the rate setting mechanisms for these charges.
• I’ve provided a very complete overview of the charges and how they have been determined, prepared by the PUC staff. It gives lots of detail about these charges and how they are governed.
Next steps:
The PUC does not seem ready to abandon this long held practice of charging a Public Fire Protection assessment to every municipality with a regulated water utility. In fact, just the opposite -- they are ready to defend this practice vigorously.
Here are our choices:
1. Take the information and drop the matter -- continuing to pay the fire protection assessment.
2. Look at alternative ways to evaluate the real cost / value of the fire protection assets, so that the annual payment reflects the actual associated costs. This approach has two downsides -- it will cost money to conduct such a study, and the study could actually raise the assessment rather than lower it.
3. Pursue a policy change that would create a new approach or formula for the allocation of fire protection assessments to municipalities. If that is your choice, I would be happy to work with you to put together legislation to accomplish this and sponsor that legislation. Let me observe, however, that this will likely be a contentious issue that could pit municipalities against one another. Most likely, depending upon what changes would be made, it would match bigger municipalities against smaller ones. Therefore, if you want to pursue policy changes, I suggest that you bring the matter up with the Maine Municipal Association and work through their Legislative Policy process.
I am happy to stick with this issue and process just as long as you want to. Let me know what you want to do and we’ll stay at work on the issue. You may want to review this material from the PUC in some detail and discuss this again at another time. We have several months before any legislative proposals would be submitted, so you can consider the approach with some tine. The way to succeed with a policy change in an area like this is to build some allies -- and that will mean close cooperation with other municipalities -- probably though MMA.
Selectman Buccina may have something to add -- so I’ll turn it over to him. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this matter and at least get the ball rolling.
It was a great question, and I didn’t have the answer, so I set up a meeting with PUC staff to get some history and background on this charge. Selectman Buccina and I met with PUC staff on June 25th, and they were ready for us. It seems like we are not the first to raise this question and look for alternatives to this mandated charge.
Here are some of the things we learned:
• As far as the state is concerned fire protection is the main purpose for any municipal water system, with providing water for other uses (residential of commercial) are all secondary.
• Since fire protection is the primary rationale for creating, funding and regulating a municipal water system -- it must be built to produce flows that are adequate to meet fire protection demands -- and for small systems that means the total system is significantly “overbuilt” were it to be compared to a system just to deliver water to homes and businesses.
• The assessment to the municipality is based on a formula that has been developed over many years -- starting in 1888 -- with the most recent study finished in the late 1980’s. That resulted in Chapter 69 of the PUC rules which establishes the rate setting mechanisms for these charges.
• I’ve provided a very complete overview of the charges and how they have been determined, prepared by the PUC staff. It gives lots of detail about these charges and how they are governed.
Next steps:
The PUC does not seem ready to abandon this long held practice of charging a Public Fire Protection assessment to every municipality with a regulated water utility. In fact, just the opposite -- they are ready to defend this practice vigorously.
Here are our choices:
1. Take the information and drop the matter -- continuing to pay the fire protection assessment.
2. Look at alternative ways to evaluate the real cost / value of the fire protection assets, so that the annual payment reflects the actual associated costs. This approach has two downsides -- it will cost money to conduct such a study, and the study could actually raise the assessment rather than lower it.
3. Pursue a policy change that would create a new approach or formula for the allocation of fire protection assessments to municipalities. If that is your choice, I would be happy to work with you to put together legislation to accomplish this and sponsor that legislation. Let me observe, however, that this will likely be a contentious issue that could pit municipalities against one another. Most likely, depending upon what changes would be made, it would match bigger municipalities against smaller ones. Therefore, if you want to pursue policy changes, I suggest that you bring the matter up with the Maine Municipal Association and work through their Legislative Policy process.
I am happy to stick with this issue and process just as long as you want to. Let me know what you want to do and we’ll stay at work on the issue. You may want to review this material from the PUC in some detail and discuss this again at another time. We have several months before any legislative proposals would be submitted, so you can consider the approach with some tine. The way to succeed with a policy change in an area like this is to build some allies -- and that will mean close cooperation with other municipalities -- probably though MMA.
Selectman Buccina may have something to add -- so I’ll turn it over to him. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this matter and at least get the ball rolling.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Remarks from the Denis Pratt ADA Awards
Yesterday marked the 20th Anniversary of the historic signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Here in Maine we marked the occasion in Bangor with the Denis Pratt ADA Awards presented by the Maine ADA Coalition and hosted by Husson University.
Founded in 2009 and led by Alpha One, Maine's Center for Independent Living, the Maine ADA Coalition is a group of non-profit organizations. The Coalition is involved in disability related information and services working together to create new opportunities for people with disabilities in Maine.
I was honored to be invited to speak at the event. Below is a copy of my remarks and an example of the press that followed.
Thank you for allowing me to celebrate today's historic occasion with you all.
As an Independent Living Specialist at Maine’s Center for Independent Living, as a Member of the Maine House of Representatives, and as someone with quadriplegia, I wish I could say that Maine leads the nation in accessibility... We don’t. In fact, we haven’t really surveyed accessibility in Maine on a large scale or formally. We’ve looked at pieces of the puzzle -- schools, public buildings, our court houses, parks, some businesses, places of public accommodation, our voting facilities -- all the things mandated under the ADA and other federal laws like HAVA (Help America Vote Act passed after the contested 2000 presidential vote). Denis Pratt -- who we remember today was involved in lots of this work.
Let me start with the good news part of this discussion. Our state government facilities have made the concerted effort to be accessible and they are to be commended in that regard. I have always found the public facilities in our Capitol complex to be fully accessible. The same is true for almost all the public facilities statewide. Although we’re not perfect, we’ve done a great job on the state and municipal government levels.
We’re winning that battle. And we are winning the battle with Maine businesses, too. Business people realize that access is good business. People with a disability are consumers, too. Good business is good business -- so the progress will continue.
But accessibility in Maine is a different story from that.
I can’t cite statistics -- and if I did it would be out of keeping with our celebration. Instead I want to share an experience which I am now repeating. Governor Baldacci can probably still remember his days as a member of the Maine Senate before he went on to serve with distinction in higher office -- both the US House of Representatives and the Blaine House -- and I am sure he remembers his many hours campaigning for the Maine Legislature.
Campaigning in Maine means “knocking on doors.” It means going door to door in the District, introducing yourself and asking people one on one to give you their vote. For elected officials, a vote is almost a sacred thing, and “the ask” is a great responsibility and a duty. I was struck by the weight of this duty two years ago when I made my first run for elected office, and I’m reminded of it every day as I campaign for re-election in November.
If knocking on doors is the essential task -- and it is -- what does that mean for me when the door is up a small flight of stairs?
From the perspective of a legislator -- and legislative candidate in a wheelchair Maine accessibility has a long way to go. Any person with a disability -- looking for an accessible place to live -- knows exactly what I am talking about. Any Maine family who is welcoming an elderly parent or a disabled family member into their home knows what I am talking about. Even one of my colleagues in the Legislature who had a skiing accident that left him temporarily with a mobility impair knows what I am talking about.
Having a disability is not a moral flaw or a mortal failure. It is not something that deserves discrimination or censure. My friends -- if you are lucky enough to live a very long life -- it is something you will most likely encounter. There is a point in a long life where we stop gaining facility and start losing it -- and that is unavoidable. If you live long enough -- you too will doubtless enter that category we call “people with a disability” because you need assistance with one or more activities of daily living.
In short -- we have a way to go -- especially when it comes to our homes. As I pointed out -- first things first -- but after 20 years, we should raise our expectations.
Alpha One has consistently helped people improve access. Sometimes we’ve done it with good technical assistance, sometimes with a key referral, and sometime with money to make an improvement. And we are making progress-- but we still have a long way to go. A good friend of mine is just finishing a 33 foot ramp that will allow me to get out of my car and roll up on his deck and the into his home. Great, but he talked about it for four years before he did it.
So today -- let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made. But let’s also be sure not to take our eyes off the ball. We’ve done a good job. We’ve made remarkable progress. We still have a long way to go. We need to keep working and this work will be generational in scope. I am glad we are here today and I especially want to thank Governor Baldacci for taking the time from his schedule to join us -- but let’s keep working. Making Maine the most accessible state in the nation sounds like a pretty good goal--and one worth pursuing.
Thank you again, and enjoy the celebration.
http://www.wabi.tv/news/13143/denis-pratt-ada-awards
Founded in 2009 and led by Alpha One, Maine's Center for Independent Living, the Maine ADA Coalition is a group of non-profit organizations. The Coalition is involved in disability related information and services working together to create new opportunities for people with disabilities in Maine.
I was honored to be invited to speak at the event. Below is a copy of my remarks and an example of the press that followed.
Thank you for allowing me to celebrate today's historic occasion with you all.
As an Independent Living Specialist at Maine’s Center for Independent Living, as a Member of the Maine House of Representatives, and as someone with quadriplegia, I wish I could say that Maine leads the nation in accessibility... We don’t. In fact, we haven’t really surveyed accessibility in Maine on a large scale or formally. We’ve looked at pieces of the puzzle -- schools, public buildings, our court houses, parks, some businesses, places of public accommodation, our voting facilities -- all the things mandated under the ADA and other federal laws like HAVA (Help America Vote Act passed after the contested 2000 presidential vote). Denis Pratt -- who we remember today was involved in lots of this work.
Let me start with the good news part of this discussion. Our state government facilities have made the concerted effort to be accessible and they are to be commended in that regard. I have always found the public facilities in our Capitol complex to be fully accessible. The same is true for almost all the public facilities statewide. Although we’re not perfect, we’ve done a great job on the state and municipal government levels.
We’re winning that battle. And we are winning the battle with Maine businesses, too. Business people realize that access is good business. People with a disability are consumers, too. Good business is good business -- so the progress will continue.
But accessibility in Maine is a different story from that.
I can’t cite statistics -- and if I did it would be out of keeping with our celebration. Instead I want to share an experience which I am now repeating. Governor Baldacci can probably still remember his days as a member of the Maine Senate before he went on to serve with distinction in higher office -- both the US House of Representatives and the Blaine House -- and I am sure he remembers his many hours campaigning for the Maine Legislature.
Campaigning in Maine means “knocking on doors.” It means going door to door in the District, introducing yourself and asking people one on one to give you their vote. For elected officials, a vote is almost a sacred thing, and “the ask” is a great responsibility and a duty. I was struck by the weight of this duty two years ago when I made my first run for elected office, and I’m reminded of it every day as I campaign for re-election in November.
If knocking on doors is the essential task -- and it is -- what does that mean for me when the door is up a small flight of stairs?
From the perspective of a legislator -- and legislative candidate in a wheelchair Maine accessibility has a long way to go. Any person with a disability -- looking for an accessible place to live -- knows exactly what I am talking about. Any Maine family who is welcoming an elderly parent or a disabled family member into their home knows what I am talking about. Even one of my colleagues in the Legislature who had a skiing accident that left him temporarily with a mobility impair knows what I am talking about.
Having a disability is not a moral flaw or a mortal failure. It is not something that deserves discrimination or censure. My friends -- if you are lucky enough to live a very long life -- it is something you will most likely encounter. There is a point in a long life where we stop gaining facility and start losing it -- and that is unavoidable. If you live long enough -- you too will doubtless enter that category we call “people with a disability” because you need assistance with one or more activities of daily living.
In short -- we have a way to go -- especially when it comes to our homes. As I pointed out -- first things first -- but after 20 years, we should raise our expectations.
Alpha One has consistently helped people improve access. Sometimes we’ve done it with good technical assistance, sometimes with a key referral, and sometime with money to make an improvement. And we are making progress-- but we still have a long way to go. A good friend of mine is just finishing a 33 foot ramp that will allow me to get out of my car and roll up on his deck and the into his home. Great, but he talked about it for four years before he did it.
So today -- let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made. But let’s also be sure not to take our eyes off the ball. We’ve done a good job. We’ve made remarkable progress. We still have a long way to go. We need to keep working and this work will be generational in scope. I am glad we are here today and I especially want to thank Governor Baldacci for taking the time from his schedule to join us -- but let’s keep working. Making Maine the most accessible state in the nation sounds like a pretty good goal--and one worth pursuing.
Thank you again, and enjoy the celebration.
http://www.wabi.tv/news/13143/denis-pratt-ada-awards
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mixed Martial Arts bill goes into effect this week
AUGUSTA — A new law sponsored by Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, that clarifies the role of the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine went into effect as of Monday, July 12.
The new law as sponsored by Peterson, LD 1685, “An Act To Clarify the Enforcement Role of the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine,” spells out the Authority’s role and duties and authorizes the board of directors of the Authority to conduct specific inspections of mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions or events and enhances enforcement mechanisms of the board.
The new law also requires the Authority to adopt rules regarding the certification process for authorized participants and requires that a physician be present during each mixed marital arts competition, exhibition or event. It allows the board to discipline authorized participants if they fail to adhere to the rules adopted by the Authority and allows for fines up to $500 for each violation. It also extends the deadline for the Authority to adopt rules from March 1, 2010 to October 15, 2010.
These clarifications will expedite the increasingly popular sporting events to be held in the state, bringing revenue and entertainment to Maine’s citizens. If all goes as planned the first MMA event will be scheduled at the end of 2010 and will ensure the health and safety of the participants.
Mixed Martial Arts is a full combat contact sport, combining several different styles of fighting. In 2009 Peterson introduced a bill establishing the Mixed Martial Arts Authority to regulate and promote mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events in Maine.
Recent plans to hold a boxing match in Lewiston brought to light the discovery that due to the abolishment of the Athletic Commission in 2007, boxing no longer has a governing body and is therefore illegal under a centuries old statute.
“I was dismayed to learn that boxing events cannot be held in Maine since they no longer have a regulating body,” said Peterson. “If reelected, I would love to work with the boxing community the same way I worked with mixed martial arts community, to change the statute, so that boxing events can once again be held in Maine.”
The new law as sponsored by Peterson, LD 1685, “An Act To Clarify the Enforcement Role of the Mixed Martial Arts Authority of Maine,” spells out the Authority’s role and duties and authorizes the board of directors of the Authority to conduct specific inspections of mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions or events and enhances enforcement mechanisms of the board.
The new law also requires the Authority to adopt rules regarding the certification process for authorized participants and requires that a physician be present during each mixed marital arts competition, exhibition or event. It allows the board to discipline authorized participants if they fail to adhere to the rules adopted by the Authority and allows for fines up to $500 for each violation. It also extends the deadline for the Authority to adopt rules from March 1, 2010 to October 15, 2010.
These clarifications will expedite the increasingly popular sporting events to be held in the state, bringing revenue and entertainment to Maine’s citizens. If all goes as planned the first MMA event will be scheduled at the end of 2010 and will ensure the health and safety of the participants.
Mixed Martial Arts is a full combat contact sport, combining several different styles of fighting. In 2009 Peterson introduced a bill establishing the Mixed Martial Arts Authority to regulate and promote mixed martial arts competitions, exhibitions and events in Maine.
Recent plans to hold a boxing match in Lewiston brought to light the discovery that due to the abolishment of the Athletic Commission in 2007, boxing no longer has a governing body and is therefore illegal under a centuries old statute.
“I was dismayed to learn that boxing events cannot be held in Maine since they no longer have a regulating body,” said Peterson. “If reelected, I would love to work with the boxing community the same way I worked with mixed martial arts community, to change the statute, so that boxing events can once again be held in Maine.”
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