An Act Regarding the Mountain View Youth Development Center

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Mountain View Youth Development Center has excess bed capacity available to house adult offenders, which should be utilized as soon as possible; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §4117,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 28, §12, is amended to read:

§ 4117. Adult offenders

The commissioner may confine adults sentenced and committed to the custody of the department who have not attained 26 years of age , except that, until April 30, 2017, the commissioner may confine adults of any age who have been sentenced and committed to the department, in the Mountain View Youth Development Center as long as the housing facilities for adult offenders are fully separated from the housing facilities for juvenile clients and the commissioner maintains at all times full compliance with mandatory sight and sound separation standards established by federal law. All provisions of this Title that are applicable to prisoners apply to adult offenders confined in the Mountain View Youth Development Center as if they were confined in a correctional facility housing only adults.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.