An Act To Meet the Emergency Needs of Maine Veterans
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1985
Committee Amendment CA_A_S468 (Senate)
Amends: 37-B MRSA §505

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A. "to S.P. 779, L.D. 1985, Bill, "An Act To Meet 
the Emergency Needs of Maine Veterans" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
emergency clause and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§l-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. QQ, §2, 
is amended to read: 
IS 
I-A. Financial assistance. Financial assistance may be granted as follows. 
A. 
The bureau may provide a grant of temporary assistance not to exceed $2(:)(:) per 
month and not to eKeeed $600 in any 12 month period to a veteran in this State who 
has filed a valid claim for a veteran's pension, pending notification of the award of 
such a pension, if that veteran is not incarcerated or a permanent resident of a nursing 
home and requests such assistance. For purposes of this paragraph, "claim for a 
veteran's pension" means a claim filed with the federal Veterans' Administration 
pursuant to 38 United States Code, Chapter 15. 
B. 
The bureau may provide a grant of emergency assistance not to exceed $SOO to a 
veteran who demonstrates to the bureau's satisfaction a financial need and suffers an 
emergency, such as the loss of damage to that veteran's home due to fire, flood or 
hurricane, that is not fully compensable by insurance; illness or the illness of an 
immediate family member; or a similar emergency. In the case of a veteran with 
terminal illness or catastrophic injury, the director may provide a grant of up to 
$1,000. No more than $1,000 in emergency assistance may be provided to a veteran 
in any 12-month period. For the purposes of this paragraph, "veteran" has the same 
meaning as "eligible veteran" in section S04, subsection 4, paragraph A-I. Grants 
may not be issued for fuel assistance or due to loss of income due to unemployment 
while the veteran is receiving other unemployment benefits. 
C. 
A veteran who requests either temporary assistance under paragraph A or 
emergency assistance under paragraph B and is denied such assistance may request a 
reconsideration and review of this decision by the direetor. +he 
Requests for 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
'4ii' . ., 
1f~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A .. to S.P. 779, L.D. 1985 
reconsideration of a claim must be reviewed by the director and the commissioner or 
the commissioner's designee, and the decision of the director after the reconsideration 
is final and may not be appealed to a court. 
D. 
The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted 
pursuant to this paragraph are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter II-A 2-A. 
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT 
OF 
Veterans Services 0110 
Initiative: Provides an appropriation for one Veterans Services Officer position in 
Portland, one mobile Veterans Services Officer position and related administrative and 
operating costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
2007-08 
2008-09 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
0.000 
3.500 
Personal Services 
$0 
$192,000 
All Other 
$0 
$58,000 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0 
$250,000 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides criteria for the award of grants under the emergency 
veterans assistance program. It strikes the increased distribution amounts proposed by 
the hill. The amendment replaces the appropriations and allocations section of the bill so 
that the money provided will be used to fund additional veterans services officers. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/05/08 haC!. 
LD 1985 
LR3357(02) 
An Act To Meet the Emergency Needs of Maine Veterans 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A " 
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$0 
$0 
2008-09 
$250,000 
$250,000 
Projections 
2009-10 
$250,000 
$250,000 
Projections 
2010-11 
$250,000 
$250,000 
This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $250,000 for the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management for fiscal year 2008-09 for a Veterans Services Officer in Portland, a mobile Veterans Service Officer, 
and related administrative and operating costs. 
LR3357(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1