Emergency legislation would modernize court facilities in Maine

AUGUSTA – Democratic Sen. Linda Valentino of Saco has submitted a bill for the upcoming legislative session to modernize and consolidate court facilities in Waldo, Oxford and York counties.

“These court facilities are in critical need of repairs in order to maintain efficient, timely, and safe access to justice,” said Sen. Valentino, who was selected by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley in 2014 to serve on the York County Courthouse Advisory Committee. “After thorough examination of the significant challenges facing our court facilities, it is time we made fixing them a priority.”

The bill submitted by Sen. Valentino, LR 2316, “An Act To Modernize and Consolidate Court Facilities,” would provide additional funding for building and remodeling projects for court facilities in Waldo, Oxford and York counties. The biennial budget passed last session included $300,000 to conduct a court feasibility study in Waldo, Oxford and York counties.

All legislation will be presented to the Legislative Council for its approval on Thursday, October 22. If approved by the Council, the Legislature will take up bills when they reconvene for the second session in January, 2016.

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