An Act To Remove Disparities in the Administration of Emergency Aid
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1162
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: EDMONDS, BRANNIGAN, MARTIN
Amends: 22 MRSA §3761

Legislative Document 
No. 1162 
S.P.410 
March 7, 2007 
An Act To Remove Disparities in the Administration of Emergency 
Aid 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed . 
Presented by President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senators: BRANNIGAN of Cumberland, MARTIN of Aroostook. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3761, as repealed and replaced by PL 1993, c. 707, Pt I, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
§3761. Emergency assistance 
The department, at the discretion of the commissioner, may establish and operate a 
program of emergency assistance to needy families with children ,!"cithin the United States 
Sooial Security Aot, Title IV A, Seotion 406(e), and any amendments and additions and 
individuals. 
This program must provide: 
1. Benefits; emergency situation. Benefits to needy families with children and 
individuals in emergency situations in which tho ~ family or individual is deprived of the 
basic necessities essential to their support, including, but not limited to, utility 
terminations, lack of adequate shelter, lack of transportation necessary to obtain or retain 
employment or access medical care, and fire and other natural disasters. In determining 
what constitutes an emergency with respect to utility terminations, the department shall 
grant assistance when an otherwise qualified individual or family has received a 
disconnection notice and has exhausted their the ability to negotiate and pay the terms of 
a reasonable payment arrangement. The program may not be used to supplant local 
responsibility for operating or funding a general assistance program. The department 
shall may not expend more than $750,000 $2,250,000 of state general assistance funds for 
the purposes of covering the cost of services set out in this subsection; and 
2. Additional emergency services. Additional emergency services to children who 
are at risk of removal from the home because of their specified relative's inability to 
provide care and children in emergency situations where continued presence in the home 
is not in the best interest of the children. Additional emergency services are defined as 
those that cover emergency situations resulting from child abuse, neglect, abandonment 
or domestic abuse. The department may expend other general funds for the additional 
emergency services described in this subsection. 
The department may establish eligibility guidelines and limits on services covered 
under this program; a limit of at least the amount of the overall maximum limit on 
assistance under this chapter that was in place on January 1, 2007 must be available for 
emergencies related to lack of adequate shelter. 
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Office of Integrated Access and Support 
Initiative: Provides additional funds to improve the adequacy and effectiveness of the 
emergency assistance program. 
Page I - 123LRI749(OI)-1 
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GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2007-08 
$1,125,000 
$1,125,000 
2008-09 
$1,500,000 
$1,500,000 
This bill expands the emergency assistance program's allocation in statute from 
$750,000 to $2,250,000. The bill also expands coverage to include childless adults, 
including seniors and people with disabilities .