An Act Regarding the State Government Evaluation Act Review of the Maine State Housing Authority
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2271
Amends: 30-A MRSA §4706, 30-A MRSA §4722, 30-A MRSA §4741, 30-A MRSA §4852

Legislative Document 
No. 2271 
H.P.1636 
House of Representatives, March 24, 2008 
An Act Regarding the State Government Evaluation Act Review of 
the Maine State Housing Authority 
Reported by Representative SMITH of Monmouth for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Business, Research and Economic Development pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
3, section 955, subsection 4. 
Printed on recycled paper 
1J1~ 
'frI. 7lltU~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §4706, sub-§l,~, as amended by PL 1993, c. 175, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
B. Any written or recorded financial statement, as determined by an authority, of an 
individual submitted to an authority or a member, officer, employee or agent of an 
authority, in connection with an application for, or receipt of, a grant, mortgage or 
mortgage insurance; 
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §4706, sub-§l, ~C, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 175, §2, is 
amended to read: 
C. Any information acquired by the Maine State Housing Authority or a state public 
body, private corporation, copartnership, association, fuel vendor, private contractor 
or individual, or an employee, officer or agent of any of those persons or entities, 
providing services related to weatherization, energy conservation, homeless 
assistance or fuel assistance programs of the Maine State Housing Authority, when 
that information was provided by the applicant for, or recipient of, those services or 
by a 3rd person; aHd 
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §4706, sub-§l, ~, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 175, §2, is 
amended to read: 
D. 
Any statements of financial condition or information pertaInIng to financial 
condition submitted to any of the persons or entities set forth in paragraph C in 
connection with an application for services related to weatherization, energy 
conservation, homeless assistance or fuel assistance programs of the Maine State 
Housing Authority~; and 
Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §4706, sub-§l, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
E. The address of a shelter or other living accommodations for victims of domestic 
violence. 
Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §4722, sub-§l, ,v, as amended by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. 
RRRR, §4, is further amended to read: 
Y. Expand access to housing for young professionals and young families. The Maine 
State Housing Authority shall develop recommendations to create or modifY 
programs with the goal of expanding access to housing for young professionals and 
young families. 
The Maine State Housing Authority shall specifically consider 
strategies to assist renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age 
and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan obligations. The 
Maine State Housing Authority shall collaborate with the Maine Community College 
System, vocational high schools and community action programs to encourage the 
development of affordable housing in high-cost housing areas of the State. 
(1) 
The Maine State Housing Authority shall report its findings and 
recommendations regarding expanded access to housing for young professionals 
and young families to the Maine Development Foundation and to the joint 
... 
I 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters 
no later than January 15,2005 and annually thereafter; 
Sec. 6. 30-A MRSA §4741, sub-§18, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 175, §8, is 
amended to read: 
18. State designee for homeless programs. The Maine State Housing Authority is 
designated the coordinating agency for the State for programs dealing with homeless 
persons and may apply for, receive, distribute and administer federal, state and other 
funds on behalf of the State for homeless programs including, without limitation, the 
Emergency Community Services Homeless Grant Program and the programs authorized 
pursuant to the federal Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, Public Law 100-
77, (1987), as amended. 
Sec. 7. 30-A MRSA §4852, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1991, c. 606, Pt. C, §I 
and affected by §3, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing the Maine State Housing 
Authority. 
1. It eliminates the annual reporting requirement for the recommendations regarding 
housing for persons under 35 years of age. 
2. It provides the Maine State Housing Authority with the ability to administer state 
and other funds for persons who are homeless. 
3. It expands the records protected as confidential records pursuant to the freedom of 
access law to include the addresses of domestic violence shelters and living 
accommodations, as well as information collected by recipients of grants, mortgages and 
mortgage insurance from the authority. 
4. It repeals the setting aside of funds within the Housing Opportunities for Maine 
Fund. 
FISCAL :\OTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
Approved: 03/16/08 ;evac 
LD 
;< ;{ 7 / 
LR 3572(01) 
An Act Regarding the State Government Evaluation Act Review of the Maine State Housing Authority 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Original Bill 
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: No 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Funds 
Additional costs to the Maine State Housing Authority can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR3572(0 I) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1