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2017 Op. Me. Att'y Gen. 1 (2017)

handle is hein.sag/sagme2017 and id is 1 raw text is: JANET T. MILLS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
TEL: (207) 626-8800
TTY USERS CALL MAINE RELAY 711

STATE OF MAINE
OFFIcE OF THE; ATTORNEY G ENERAL
6 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0006

REGIONAL OFYICES
84 HARLOW ST. 2ND Foon
BANGOR, 1AINE 04401
TE: (207) 941-3070
FAx: (207) 941-3075
415 CoNGRESS ST., STE.. 301
PORTLAND, MAINE 04101
TEL: (207) 822-0260
FAx: (207) 822-0259
14 ACCESS HIGHWAY, Sm I
CARIBOU, MAINE 04736
TE1: (207) 496-3792
FAx: (207) 496-3291

January 24, 2017

The Honorable Roger Katz
Maine State Senate
3 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0003

The Honorable Aaron Frey
Maine State House of Representatives
2 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0002

RE:   Riverview- Proposed Secure Forensic Facility
Dear Senator Katz and Representative Frey:
We cannot comment on the specifics of a proposal that is not clearly defined in writing,
but we offer these general comments, not an official opinion, in response to your
questions.
We were made aware of a proposal to build a secure forensic facility (more recently
referred to as a step-down facility) on the grounds of the Riverview campus. We
counseled the Administration that Title 5, section 304 expressly requires Legislative
Council approval for the construction of a new building at that location since it is within
the Capitol Area as defined by statute. See I M.R.S. § 814 and 5 M.R.S. § 304.
Now we are informed that the Administration is proposing to build this facility in another
location, perhaps on state-owned property in Bangor.
Under the Maine Constitution, executive agencies have only that authority which is given
to them by the Legislature. See, e.g., Sawyer v. Gilmore, 109 Me. 169, 180 (1912):
The authority of the executive and judicial departments is a grant.
These departments can exercise only the powers enumerated in and
conferred upon them by the Constitution and such as are necessarily
implied therefrom. The powers of the Legislature in matters of
legislation, broadly speaking, are absolute, except as restricted and
limited by the Constitution. As to the executive and judiciary, the
Constitution measures the extent of their authority, as to the
Legislature it measures   the  limitations  upon  its authority.

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