An Act To Modernize and Consolidate Court Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1528
Committee Amendment CA_A_S437 (Senate)
Amends: 4 MRSA §1610

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 590, L.D. 1528, Bill, "An Act To 
Modernize and Consolidate Court Facilities" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §1610-1 is enacted to read: 
§1610-1. Additional securities; Judicial Branch 
Notwithstanding any limitation on the amount of securities that may be issued 
pursuant to section 1606, subsection 2, the authority may issue additional securities from 
time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed $95,600,000 outstanding at any one 
time for the pUI]?oses of paying the costs associated with the planning, purchasing, 
financing, acguiring, constructing, renovating, furnishing, eguipping, improving, 
extending, enlarging and consolidating new and existing facilities and projects relating to 
the Judicial Branch in the counties of Oxford, Waldo and York and planning for other 
court facilities. 
Sec. 2. York County Courthouse Site Selection Commission. The York 
County Courthouse Site Selection Commission, referred to in this section as "the 
commission," is created to choose a location for the new York County Courthouse. The 
commission consists of the following members: 
1. Two members appointed by the Governor; 
2. Two members of the Senate representing York County, one from each of the 2 
parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature, appointed by the President 
of the Senate; 
3. Two members of the House of Representatives representing York County, one 
from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
4. One clerk of courts and 2 judges or justices, appointed by the Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
o"/' 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 590, L.D. 1528 
5. The York County District Attorney, or the designee of the York County District 
Attorney; 
6. The York County Sheriff, or the designee of the York County Sheriff; 
7. One person appointed by the York County Commissioners; 
8. One local law enforcement officer appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Judicial Court from a list submitted by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association; 
9. Three actively practicing members of the York County Bar, at least one of whom 
does court-appointed work, from a list submitted by the York County Bar Association; 
and 
10. One victim advocate appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court. 
The State Court Administrator shall serve as a nonvoting member and provide such 
assistance as may be required by the commission. The Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Judicial Court shall name a member of the Supreme Judicial Court to serve as chair of the 
conumss10n. 
The commission shall meet at the call of the chair and make a 
recommendation to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court by January I, 2017. 
The Judicial Branch is authorized to construct a courthouse in the municipality designated 
by the commission.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the bill, which is a concept draft, and authorizes the Maine 
Governmental Facilities Authority to issue additional securities from time to time in an 
aggregate amount not to exceed $95,600,000. The funds must be used for the acquisition, 
construction, equipping, capital repairs and improvements to new and existing facilities 
and judicial projects in the counties of Oxford, Waldo and York and planning for other 
court facilities, in order to increase court efficiency, reduce operating. expenses and 
improve public service and safety. 
This amendment also establishes the York County Courthouse Site Selection 
Commission to choose a site for the new York County Courthouse. The Judicial Branch 
is authorized to build the courthouse in the municipality selected by the commission. 
l'ISCALNOTE REQUIUD 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/18/16 
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LD 1528 
LR2316(02) 
An Act To Modernize and Consolidate Court Facilities 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~f (5-t.{°6 7J 
Committee: Judiciary 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Bond Issues 
Maine Gov Fae Auth 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
Term (years) 
$0 
$0 
Principal 
$95,600,000 
Rate(%) 
4.0% 
$0 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2017-18 
$2,017,470 
$2,017,470 
Interest 
$40,152,000 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
$5,481,883 
$5,481,883 
Total Cost 
$135,752,000 
The general operating expenses of participating in this commission are projected to be $2,000 in fiscal year 2016-17. 
The Legislature's budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2016-17 for legislative studies. Whether this amount is 
sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the 
Legislature. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill authorizes the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority to issue securities by $95,600,000 to fund new 
courthouses in Waldo and Yark Counties and the renovation of and addition to a courthouse in Oxford County. The 
All-In True Interest Cost (All-In TIC) for the first bond issuance in July 2016 is assumed to be the current market rate 
plus .5%, or 3.36%. The second issuance in July 2017 is assumed to be the current market rate plus 1 %, or 3.87%. · 
The last bond issuance in July 2018 is assumed to be the current market rate plus 2%, or 4.89%. The assumed 
average All-In TIC for all three issuances is 4.18%. The estimated debt service cost to the judicial branch for the 
first two years is $2,017,470 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $5,481,883 fiscal year 2018-19.