An Act To Allow The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf To Lease Space to Maine's Protection and Advocacy Agency for Persons with Disabilities

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

Whereas,  there are unused school facilities at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf on Mackworth Island; and

Whereas,  the Legislature finds that it would serve a public purpose to lease these unused school facilities to the protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities designated by the Governor, which provides services for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and children and other citizens of the State with disabilities; and

Whereas,  this legislation authorizes the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to enter into agreements to lease these unused school facilities consistent with state law regarding excess state property; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect in time to allow for the lease of the unused school facilities by May 1, 2018; 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. 20-A MRSA §7407, sub-§12-B  is enacted to read:

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

SUMMARY

This bill allows the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to enter into lease agreements to lease school property at the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf on Mackworth Island to the State's protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities.