Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §282-A is enacted to read:

§282-A.__Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services

authorized to execute easements

1.__Authority.__The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services is authorized to release, grant or receive title to nonfee interests such as easements or rights-of-way in property held by the State or any of its agencies in accordance with the following:

A.__A release of an interest in property is authorized upon the commissioner's finding that the interest no longer contributes to the value of the state property or that the release does not detract from the value of state property;

B.__The granting of an interest in property is authorized upon the commissioner's finding that such interest does not detract from the value of state property; and

C.__Receiving title to an interest in property is authorized upon the commissioner's finding that the value of state property is enhanced.

2.__Appraisal.__In order to release, grant or receive title to nonfee interests pursuant to subsection 1, the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services must have the current market value of the nonfee interest determined through an estimate of value if the value is under $1,000 or through an independent appraisal if the value exceeds $1,000.

3.__Repeal.__This section is repealed August 1, 2006.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to execute easement deeds, such as routine and technical utility easements, as these are needed on a regular basis. Pursuant to Resolve 1999, chapter 97, the commissioner held this authority from August 11, 2000 to August 11, 2003. This bill reinstates that authority until August 1, 2006.