An Act To Provide Peer Support and Advocacy Services To Participants in the ASPlRE-T ANF Program and the Parents as Scholars Program LR 1123(02)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0878
Committee Amendment CA_A_H398 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3789-E

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. f}. to H.P. 655, L.D. 878, Bill, "An 
Act To Provide Peer Support and Advocacy Services To Participants 
in the ASPIRE-TANF Program and the Parents as Scholars Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
. Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3789-E is enacted to read: 
§3789-E. 
Peer sypport and advocacy demonstration project 
1. 
Project established. 
The department shall establish a 
peer support and advocacy demonstration project, referred to in 
this section as "the project," to provide information. support 
and 
advocacy 
services 
for 
participants 
in 
the 
ASPIRE TANF 
program. 
as established in section 3781-A. 
and the Parents as 
Scholars Program. as established in section 3790, subsection 1. 
2. 
Project design. 
The department shall establish in 4 of 
its 
offices 
peer 
support 
and 
advocacy 
groups 
made 
up 
of 
ASPIRE TANF program and Parents as Scholars Program participants 
who. on a volunteer basis. are available to assist their peers in 
the 
programs 
by 
answering 
questions 
or 
assisting 
them 
in 
resolving problems they may be having in either of the programs. 
The peer support and advocacy groups shall meet regularly with 
the management of the ASPIRE TANF program and Parents as Scholars 
Program to discuss 
systemic issues 
and methods 
of 
improving 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. fr .. to H.P. 655, L.D. 878 
administration of the programs. 
The time spent by a volunteer in 
a peer support and advocacy group in activities pursuant to the 
project may 
count either toward fulfilling the participation 
requirements for the 
ASPIRE-TANF 
program under 
section 3788. 
subsections 
and 
or 
toward 
fulfilling 
the 
program 
requirements for the Parents as Scholars Program under section 
3790. subsection 3, whichever applies to the volunteer. 
3. 
Project specifications. 
The 
project must 
meet 
the 
following specifications; 
A. 
The 
department 
shall provide 
notice 
to 
ASPIRE-TANF 
program and Parents as Scholars Program participants in the 
offices selected for the project pursuant to subsection 2 
that peer support, 
information and advocacy services are 
available to them and ensure that the project is designed to 
provide, to the maximum extent feasible, 
access to those 
services: 
B. 
Volunteers in a peer support and advocacy group must 
receive adequate training from the department to provide the 
services 
available 
under 
this 
project. 
Training 
must 
include, 
without 
limitation, 
the 
establishment 
of 
relationships and coordination with relevant advocacy groups: 
C. 
Volunteers 
shall 
maintain 
the 
confidentiality 
of 
ASPIRE-TANF 
program 
and 
Parents 
as 
Scholars 
Program 
participants with whom they are working: 
D. 
Volunteers in a peer support and advocacy group are 
authorized to work directly with ASPIRE-TANF program workers 
and Parents as Scholars Program workers and supervisors to 
help resolve problems identified by participants from whom 
they have received a request for assistance: 
E. 
Each peer support and advocacy group is responsible for 
identifying 
and 
documenting 
systemic 
problems 
facing 
ASPIRE-TANF 
program 
and 
Parents 
as 
Scholars 
Program 
participants 
served 
by 
its office 
and 
reporting 
those 
problems 
to 
the 
department 
and 
to 
the 
Maine 
Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families Advisory Council established 
by Title 5, section l2004-I, subsection 36-C: and 
F. 
The department or any employee of the department may not 
penalize, 
retaliate against 
or discriminate 
against 
any 
ASPIRE-TANF 
program 
or 
Parents 
as 
Scholars 
Program 
participant for seeking assistance from a volunteer in a 
peer support and advocacy group or against any volunteer in 
a peer support and advocacy group acting within the scope of 
the volunteer's role. 
If a volunteer in a peer support and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. ft .. to H.P. 655, L.D. 878 
advocacy 
group or 
a 
ASPIRE TANF 
program or 
Parents 
as 
Scholars 
Program participant believes this paragraph has 
been 
violated, 
the 
individual 
or 
the 
individual's 
representative may request a fair hearing pursuant to Title 
5, chapter 375, subchapter 4. 
4. 
Report. 
The department shall provide a report on the 
status 
and 
progress 
of 
the 
project 
to 
the 
Joint 
Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2004. 
5. 
Repeal. 
This section is repealed July 1, 2005.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment is the majority report and 
replaces 
the 
bill. 
The amendment directs the Department of Human Services to 
establish a 
volunteer peer support and advocacy demonstration 
project in 4 of its offices to provide information, support and 
advocacy services to ASPIRE-TANF program and Parents as Scholars 
Program participants. 
The amendment requires that the department 
provide a report on the project to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2004 and adds a sunset 
provision repealing the project July 1, 2005. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04/03/03 ~ac:.. 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD878 
An Act To Provide Peer Support and Advocacy Services To Participants 
in the ASPlRE-T ANF Program and the Parents as Scholars Program 
LR 1123(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Human Services in establishing and administering a voluntary, time-
limited, peer support and advocacy demonstration project in four different offices, and for reporting on the status an 
progress of the project, can be absorbed utilizing existing resources. 
LRl123(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1