Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services To Establish a Working Group To Develop Options for the Long-term Renovation and Use of the Stone Buildings, the Administrative Building and the Center Building Formerly Occupied by the Augusta Mental Health Institute

Sec. 1. Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services directed to establish working group to develop plan for buildings formerly occupied by Augusta Mental Health Institute. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services shall establish a working group to develop options for the long-term renovation and use of the Stone Buildings, the Administrative Building and the Center Building formerly occupied by the Augusta Mental Health Institute. The commissioner shall seek to include in the working group representatives from the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of General Services; the Capitol Planning Commission; the Maine Historic Preservation Commission; the City of Augusta; the Maine Association of Realtors; and other individuals or organizations determined appropriate by the commissioner; and be it further

Sec. 2. Working group duties. Resolved: That the working group established in section 1 shall make recommendations regarding options for the long-term renovation and use of the buildings formerly occupied by the Augusta Mental Health Institute along with specific fiscal implications of those options. Options must include without limitation the following:

1. Using bonds to fund the renovation of the buildings;

2. Using a combination of ground leases and building sales in a public-private partnership for renovation; and

3. Using a combination of state agencies and private lease options for occupancy; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the working group established in section 1 shall report its findings and recommendations under section 2 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters no later than February 15, 2007; and be it further

Sec. 4. Authority to report out legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters is authorized to report out legislation concerning the findings and recommendations under section 2 to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.