Resolve, To Establish a Committee To Examine the Impacts of the 1993 Amendments to General Assistance Program Eligibility
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0899
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MITCHELL, CROCKETT, SILSBY

Legislative Document 
No. 899 
S.P.287 
February 28, 2007 
Resolve, To Establish a Committee To Examine the Impacts of the 
1993 Amendments to General Assistance Program Eligibility 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MITCHELL of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative CROCKETT of Augusta and 
Representative: SILSBY of Augusta. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
I 
Sec. 1. 
General Assistance Program Committee. 
Resolved: 
That the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall convene the General Assistance 
Program Committee, referred to in this resolve as "the committee," to study changes in 
general assistance program eligibility that occurred as the result of the economic 
recession of the early 1990s. 
In convening the committee, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall 
invite the following 8 members to serve on the committee: 
1. 
Three municipal general assistance program administrators nominated by the 
Maine Welfare Directors Association, with at least one member representing a 
municipality of fewer than 3,500 persons; 
II 
2. Three advocates representing low-income clients nominated by the Commissioner 
of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee; 
3. One member nominated by the Maine Equal Justice Partners; and 
4. One member nominated by the Maine Municipal Association; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Committee duties. Resolved: That the committee shall examine and 
make recommendations regarding the impact that creating a standard of income eligibility 
for general assistance of 110% of the United States Department of Housing and Urban 
Development fair market rent values has had on homelessness and poverty in Maine; and 
be it further 
Sec. 3. Reports. Resolved: That the committee shall submit a report of its 
findings and recommendations no later than January 14, 2008 to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services. Following receipt and review of the final 
report, the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services may submit 
legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to convene the 
General Assistance Program Committee to examine the impact that creating a standard of 
income eligibility for general assistance of 110% of the United States Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rent values has had on homelessness and 
poverty in Maine. 
Members of the committee include general assistance program 
administrators, advocates of low-income clients, a representative from the Maine 
Municipal Association and a representative from the Maine Equal Justice Partners. The 
committee must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by January 14,2008.