1. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governor, with the assistance of the director, may negotiate with any person for the development or expansion of a forensic facility of the department; provided that if an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required for a proposed site or for the expansion of the forensic facility under section 343-5, then notwithstanding the time periods specified for public review and comments under section 343-5, the governor shall accept public comments for a period of sixty days following public notification of either an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.

2. (b) Any development or expansion proposal shall address the construction of the forensic facility separate from the operation of the facility and shall consider and include:

   1. (1) The percentages of low, medium, and high risk patients;
   2. (2) The impact of the facility on existing infrastructure and an assessment of improvements and additions that will be necessary;
   3. (3) The impact of the facility on available modes of transportation, including airports, roads, and highways; and
   4. (4) A useful life costs analysis.

3. (c) For the purposes of this section:

   "Forensic facility" means a facility that assesses and treats forensically committed persons.

   "Useful life costs" means an economic evaluation that compares alternate building and operating methods and provides information on the design, construction methods, and materials to be used with respect to efficiency in building maintenance and facility operation.

[L 2016, c 90, §2]