An Act To Streamline Criteria for Municipal General Assistance for Heating and Utility Assistance
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1846
Committee Amendment CA_A_H790 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A' to H.P. 1286, L.D. 1846, Bill, "An Act To 
Streamline Criteria for Municipal General Assistance for Heating and Utility Assistance 
" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To 
Establish a Working Group To Examine Ways for Municipalities To 
Distribute More Heating Assistance' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting in its 
place the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
Department of Health and Human Services to establish a 
working group to examine ways for municipalities to distribute more heating 
assistance. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and Human Services shall 
establish a working group to examine ways for municipalities to provide additional 
heating assistance for low-income individuals, including through the municipal general 
assistance program, particularly during periods of unmet need under the federal Low 
Income Heating Assistance Program. 
For the purposes of the study, "low-income 
individuals" means persons eligible for the federal Low Income Heating Assistance 
Program. The working group must include representatives from each of the agencies and 
organizations on the general assistance committee established in Resolve 2003, chapter 
as well as at least one representative from the Maine State Housing Authority and at 
least one representative from community action programs. The working group may also 
include any other persons or representatives of organizations determined appropriate by 
the department; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report and recommendations. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services shall report its findings under section 1 and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation if appropriate, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters 
no later than December 15,2006; and be it further 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT -4 to H.P. 1286, L.D. 1846 
Sec. 3. Authority to report out legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters 
is authorized to report out legislation concerning the study under section 1 to the First 
Regular Session of the l23rd Legislature.' 
S~MAAY 
This resolve replaces the bill. 
It directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services to establish a working group to examine ways for municipalities to distribute 
more heating assistance to residents who are eligible for the federal Low Income Heating 
Assistance Program. The department shall submit its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over state and local government matters by December 15,2006. 
FISCAL :\OTE REClllRED 
. 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/27/06 .?d'ac:.. 
LD 1846 
LR2967(02) 
An Act To Streamline Criteria for Municipal General Assistance for Heating and Utility Assistance 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services in implementing this bill can be absorbed by 
the department utilizing existing budget resources. 
LR2967(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1