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 (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1756
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: PIERCE, BREEN
Amends: 20-A MRSA §7407

Legislative Document
No. 1756
H.P. 1209
House of Representatives, December 22, 2017
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
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 20, 2017.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PIERCE of Falmouth.
Cosponsored by Senator: BREEN of Cumberland.
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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §7407, sub-§12-B is enacted to read:
12-B.  Lease of school property to State's protection and advocacy agency.  The 
Department of Administrative and Financial Services may enter into lease agreements in 
accordance with state law and policy on the lease of state-owned facilities, including but 
not limited to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 154, to lease school property to the 
protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities designated pursuant to Title 
5, section 19502.  Any funds received pursuant to this subsection must first be applied in 
accordance with Title 5, section 1784.  Any excess revenue above the requirements of 
Title 5, section 1784 may be retained by the school to be applied to statutorily authorized 
programs.
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.