An Act To Update Terms and Make Changes in Child Care and Transportation Benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1416
Committee: Health and Human Services sllggested and
Sponsors: MILLETT
Amends: 22 MRSA §3104, 22 MRSA §3104-A, 22 MRSA §3762, 22 MRSA §3769-C, 22 MRSA §3788

Legislative Document 
No. 1416 
H.P.992 
House of Representatives, April 7, 2009 
An Act To Update Terms and Make Changes in Child Care and 
Transportation Benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families Program 
Submitted by the DepartmentofHealth and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services sllggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative MILLETT of Waterford. 
Printed llll rc..:ydcd pap!..'!' 
71J~1J: 1J1.1J?!tc~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted: by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3104, as amended by PL 2001, c. 59~, § 1, is further amended 
to read: 
§3104. Statewide food supplement program 
1. Program required. The department shal1: 
A. 
Administer a statewide program in accurdaRce with the related requirements and 
regulations of the United States Departments of Agriculture and Health, Education 
and \Velfare Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Health "and 
. Human Services and the United States Department of Education; and 
B. 
Cooperate with and participate in the administration of food distribution 
programs in conformity with regulations promulgated by the United States 
Department of Agriculture. 
3. Authorization of emergency food stamp benefits prior .to full verification. 
\Vhenever an applicant for- food stamps states to the department that he is in need of 
immediate food assistance, the department shall, pending verification, issue and mail a 
card authorizing the applicant to purchase food stamps at the time of the department's 
initial intervie,v with the applicant or within one working day of the interviev,'. provided 
that all ofthe followin2' conditions are met: 
A. 
As a result of the initial interview with the Q:pplicant, the department shall have 
determined that the household. of the applicant ,vill probably be eligible for food 
stamps after full verification is completed; 
B. 
Where possible, the applicant shall submit to the department, at the time of the" 
initial interview, the adequate documentation to verify that he is in need of immediate 
food assistance; 
C. 
When adequate documentation is not available at the time of the initial 
intervie\v, the department shall contact at least one .other person for the purpose of 
obtaining information to confirrn the applicant's statements about his need for 
immediate food assistance; and 
D. 
ltfno case: 
(1) Shall the authorization to purchase food stamps under this section exceed "30 
days from the date that the applicant receives the authorizing card: and 
(2) Shall there be further food stamp issuance to the applicant's household until 
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full verification has been obtained which confinns the eli2'ibilitv of the 
household. 
3-A. 
Authorization of emergency food supplement benefits prior to full 
verification. Whenever an applicant for benefits under the food. supplement program 
states to the department that the applicant is in need of immediate food assistance, the 
department shall, pending verification, issue and mail an electronic benefits transfer card 
authorizing the applicant to purchase food at the time of the department's initial interview 
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with the applicant or within one working day of the interview. as long as all of the 
following conditions are met. 
A. As a result of the initial interview with the applicant. the department must have 
determined that the household of the applicant will probably be eligible for food 
supplement program benefits after full verification is completed. 
B. When possible, the applicant shall submit to the department, at the time of the 
initial interview, adequate documentation to verify that the applicant is in need of 
immediate food assistance. 
C. When adequate documentation is not available at the time of the initial interview, 
the department shall contact at least one other person for the purpose of obtaining 
information to confirm the applicant's statements about the applicant's need for 
immediate food assistance. 
The authorization to receive food supplement program benefits under this section may not 
exceed 30 days from the date that the applicant receives the authorizing card. Additional 
food supplement program benefits may not be issued to the applicant's household until 
full verification has been obtained that confirms the eligibility of the household. 
4. 
Mail issuanee of eoupons. The department shall institute a system· of mail 
issuance of food stamp allotments through a direct coupon mailing system as authorized 
by and in conformity with regulations promulgated by the United States Department of 
Agriculture. 
In those areas of the State where the department can document evidence of significant 
diminution of client demand or of loss of significant numbers of coupons, the department 
may) after notice and hearing, establish an alternative system of food stamp issuance. 
4-A. Electronic benefits transfer system. The department shall operate a svstem of 
issuance of food allotments through an electronic benefits transfer system as authorized 
by and in conformity with regulationspr?mulgated by the United States Department of 
Agriculture. 
5. Outreach. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department fully carry out all 
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outreach activities established by federal regulation to encourage the participation of all 
eligible households. 
In carrying out its outreach activities, the department shall insure that all applicants and 
recipients are informed of their right to have the requirement for a face-to-face interview 
waived as provided by federal regulations. 
6. Bilingual requirements. The department shall print and distribute brochures or 
pamphlets concerning the food stamp program in other languages as it deems necessary. 
The department shall prepare public sep,ice announcements in French for distribution to 
appropriate newspapers and radio and television stations. 
7. 
Verification of information. The department shall establish and implement 
uniform verification procedures that will be applied to all applicants and recipients. 
8. Certification periods. Households sflaU must be cel1ified for a 6 month 12-month 
period unless there is a likelihood of change in inconie or hOlisehold status. Households 
consisting of elderly or disabled persons \vith stable incomes shall be certified for 12 
months. 
9. Information on notice to recipients. All notices of denial, reduction of benefits, 
termination of benefits, fraud claims, nonfraud clailTIs or other actions sflaU must contain 
information on the appeal procedure, and the availability of free legal representation in 
the geographic area and sflaU inust include, at a minimum, the address and telephone 
number for these services. 
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10. Supplemental monthly issuance. Whenever a household receiving food stamps 
benefits through the food supplement program infonTIs the department of a change in 
circumstances that will result in an increase in its food stamp allotment supplement 
benefit, the department shall issue a supplemental food stamp allotment to that household 
for the month in which the change is reported. The supplemental allotment must represent 
the difference between the amolmt for which the household was originally cel1ified in 
that month and the amount fOr which it is actually eligible as a result of its rep0l1ed 
change in circumstances. -
The department shall !t!iHl issue that supplemental allotment within 5 working days of the 
date that the change in circumstances was reported. 
. 
11. Food supplement program overpayment recovery. Any money recovered by 
the department as a result of the overpayment of food ~ 
supplement benefits must· 
be deposited to the General Fund, including any money up to a maximum of $81,475 
recovered prior to the effective date of this subsection March 14, 1991. 
12. 
Penalty. The unauthorized issuance,' redemption,· use, transfer, acquisition, 
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alteration or possession - of coupons or other program access device, including an 
electronic benefits transfer card, may subject an individual, partnership, corporation or 
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other legal entity to prosecutIon by (he State in accordance with Sections 15 (b) and 15 
(y) of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977 and the federal Food mid Nutrition Act of 
29. 
2008. Penalties are in accordance with those outlined in federal law or regulations. 
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13. Categorical eligibility. The departrrient shall adopt rules that maximize access 
to the food stamp supplement program for households in which there is a child who 
would be a dependent child under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program 
but that do not receive a monthly cash assistance grant from the Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families program. Under rules adopted pursuant to this subsection, certain of 
these families must be authorized to receive referral services provided through the 
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant and be categorically eligible for the 
food ~ 
supplement program in accordance with federal law. Rules adopted pursuant 
. to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
II--A 2-A. 
14. Prohibition against denial of assistance based on drug conviction. A person 
who is otherwise eligible to receive food assistance under the federal Food Stamp Act of 
. 1977, 7 United States Code, Sections 2011 to 2036 and under the federal Food and 
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Nutrition Act of 2008 may not be denied assistance because the person has been 
convicted of a drug-related felony as described in the federal Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Publi~ Law 104-193, Section 115, 110 
Stat. 2105. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3104-A, as amended by PL1999, c. 401, Pt. S, §2, is further 
amended to read:. 
. 
. 
§3104-A. Food supplement program for legal aliens 
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1. Food assistance. The department shalL provide food assistance to households that 
would be eligible for assistance under the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 United 
States Code, Section 2011, etseq., and under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of2008 
but for provisions of Sections 401,402 and 403. of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
. 0pPOIiunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. 
. 
2. Amount of assistance. The total amount of food assistance provided under this 
section must equal the amount that the household would be eligible to receive under the 
federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 United States Code, Sections 2014 and 2017, and 
under the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 if the hOLisehold were eligible for that 
mAP-rnm either of those programs. 
3. Administration. The department shall provide assistance under this section to 
eligible households on a monthly basis through a system of direct mail of coupons or 
electronic benefit issuance. The depm1ment is authorized to negotiate 'Nith the United 
States Department of Agriculture to arrange for the purchase of federal food stamps or 
produce its own food coupons to be used by eligible households for transactions' with 
vendors under this nFO!!Fam an electronic benefit transfer system. 
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§l, -,rB-l isenacted to read: .. 
B-1. "ORA" means the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171, 
Stat. 4. 
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3762, sub~§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. XX, §1, is' 
. 
. 
fUJiher amended to read: 
3. Administration. The depaIiment may administer and operate a program of aid to 
needy dependent children, called "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" or 
"TANF," who are deprived of. suppoli or care due to the death, continued absence, 
physical oi- mental incapacity of a parent or the unemployment or underemployment of 
the principal Wage eal11er in accordance with the United States Social Security Act, as 
amended by PRWORA and ORA, and this Title. 
A. 
The depaliment shall adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer the 
program. 
The rules must include eligibility criteria, budgeting process, benefit 
calculation and confidentiality. 
The confidentiality rules must ensure that 
confidentiality is maintained feir T ANF recipients at least to the sanle extent that 
confidentiality was maintained for families in the Aid to Families with. Dependent 
Children program unless otherwise reqpired by federal law or regulation. 
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: B. The department may use funds, insofar as resources permit, provided under and in 
accordance with the United State.s Social Security Act or state funds appropriated for 
this purpose or a combination of state and federal funds to provide ~ssistance to 
families under this chapter. In addition to assistance for families described in this 
subsection, funds must be expended for the following purposes: 
(1) To continue the pass-through of the first $50 per month of current child 
support collections and the exclus"ion of the $50 pass-through. ftom the budget 
tests and benefit calculations; 
(2) To provide financial and medical assistance to certain noncitizens legally " 
admitted to the United States. Recipients of assistance under this subparagraph 
are limited to the categories of noncitizens who would be eligible for the TANF 
or Medicaid programs but for their status as aliens under PRWORA. Eligibility 
for the TANF and Medicaid programs for these categories of noncitizens must be 
determined using the criteria applicable to other recipients of assistance from 
these programs; 
(3) To provide benefits to certain 2-parent families whose deprivation is based on 
physical or mental incapacity; 
(4) To provide an assistance program fOI: needy children, 19 to 21 years of age, 
who are in full-time attendance in secondary school. The program is operated for 
those individuals who qualify for T ANF under the United States Social Security 
Act, except that they fail to meet the age requirement, and is also operated for the 
parent or caretaker relative of those individuals. Except for the age requirement, 
all provisions of T ANF;including the standard of need and the amount of 
assistance, .apply to the program established pursuant to this subparagraph; 
(5) To provide assistance for a pregnant woman who is otherwise eligible for 
assistance under th is chapter, except that she has no dependents under 19 years of 
age. An individual is eligible for the monthly benefit for one eligible person if 
the medically substantiated expected date of the birth of her child is not more 
than 90 days following the date the benefit is received; 
(6) To provide a special housing allowan.ce for T ANF families whose shelter 
expenses for rent, mortgage or similar payments, homeowners insurance and 
property taxes equal or exceed 75% of their monthly income. 
The special 
housing allowance is limited to$1 00 per month for each family. For purposes of 
this subparagraph, "monthly income" means the total of the T ANF monthly 
. benefit and all income countable under the T ANF program, plus child support 
received by the family, excluding the $50 pass-through payment; 
(7) In determining benefit levels for T ANF recipients who have earnings from 
employment, the department shall disregard from monthly earnings the 
following: 
(a) One hundred and eight dollars; 
(b) Fifty percent of the remaining earnings that are less than the federal 
poverty level; and 
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(c) All actual child care costs necessary for work, except that the department 
may limit the child care disregard to $175 per month per child or $200 per 
month per child under 2 years of age or with special needs; 
(8) In cases when the TANF recipient has no child care cost, the monthly TANF 
benefit is the maximum payment level or the difference between the countable 
earnings and the standard of need established by rule adopted by the department, 
whichever is lower; 
. (9) In cases when the TANF recipient lias child care costs, the department shall 
determine a total benefit package, including TANF cash assistance, determined in 
accordance with subparagraph (7) and additional child care assistance, as 
provided by rule, necessary to cover the T ANF recipient's actual child care costs 
up to the maximum amount specified in section 3782-A, subsection 5. 
The 
benefit amount must be paid as provided in this subparagraph. 
(a) Before the first month in which child care assistance is available to an 
ASPIRE-TANF recipient under this paragraph and periodically thereafter, the 
department shall notify the recipient of the total benefit package and the 
following options of the recipient: to receive the total benefit package 
directly; or to have the department pay the recipient's child care assistance 
directly to the designated child care provider for the recipient and pay the 
balance of the total benefit package to the recipient. 
(b) If an ASPIRE-TANF recipient notifies the department that the recipient 
chooses to receive the child care assistance directly, the department shall pay 
the total benefit package to the recipient. 
(c) 
If an ASPIRE-TANF recipient does not respond or notifies the 
departmerit of the choice to have the child care assistance paid directly to the 
child care provider from the total benefit package, the department shall pay 
the child care assistance directly to the designated child care provider for the 
recipient. The department shall pay the balance of the total benefit package 
to the recipient; 
(10) Child care assistance under this paragraph must be paid by the department 
in a prompt manner that permits an ASPIRE-TANF recipient to access child care 
necessary for work; and 
(11) 
The department shall adopt rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375 to 
implement this subsection. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subparagraph are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. XX, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
8. Transitional support services. The department shall administer 11 program of 
transitional suppOli services in accordance with PR WORA, DRA and this subsection. 
A. The department shall administer a program of transitional Medicaid to families 
receiving benefits under Section 1931 of the federal Social Security Act in 
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accordance with this paragraph. 
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10. 
2i 
(1) 
The department shall provide transitional Medicaid to families whose 
average gross monthly earnings, less costs to the family for child care necessary 
for employment,' do not exceed 185% of the federal .poverty guidelines in 
accordance with PRWORA and this subsection. In order to receive transitional 
Medicaid as the result of increased earnings or number of hours worked, a family 
must have received Medicaid assistance for at least 3 of the last 6 months, except 
·as provided in subparagraph (2). 
(2)' The department shall provide transitional Medicaid for families whose 
eligibility for 'Medicaid assistance terminated due to employment obtained 
through work search activities pursuant to this chapter, in which case the family 
must have received Medicaid assistance for at least one of the last 3 months. 
. (3) -To continue to receive transitional Medicaid assistance following the first 6 
months of coverage, a farhily entering the transitional Medicaid program with 
income above 133% of the federal poverty guidelines must pay premiums in 
accordance with rules adopted by the department. 
(5) The department shaIl provide transitional Medicaid for 4 months to families 
whose eligibility for Medicaid assistance terminated due to an increase in the 
amount of child SUppOit received by the family. 
(6) The depaliment shall require reporting of lncome or circumstances for the 
purpose of determining eligibility and premium payments, co payments or other 
methods. of cost sharing for benefits under this paragraph in accordance with 
rules adopted by the department. 
(7) The scope of services provided under this paragraph must be the same as the 
scope of services provided when a family received Medicaid assistance. 
B. The depaIiment shaIl provide limited transitional transportatiofi benefits to meet 
employment-related costs to ASPIRE-TANF program ,paIticipants who lose 
eligibility for TANF assist~nce due to employment. Benefitsffl-HSt may be provided 
for 90 days up to 12 months foIlowing loss ofTANF eligibility. The department may 
adopt rules that impose a weekly limit on available transitional transpOitation benefits 
and that require a contribution from each participant toward the cost oftransportatioj1. 
C. 
The department shall make available transitional child care services to families 
who lose eligibility for TANF as a j'esult of increased earnings or an increase in the 
number of hours worked and whose gross income is equal to or less than 85% of the 
. State's median income for a family of comparable size. The depaltment shall make 
available transitional child care services to families who lose eligibility for TANF as 
a result of increased earnings or an increase in the number of hours worked and 
whose gross income is equal to or less than 250% of the federal R0y-erty guidelines. 
The depaltment may also make transitional child care services available to families in 
which one or both adults are working and who, although they remain financially 
el igible for T ANF. benefits, request thattheir benefits be terminated. The family shall 
pay a premium of 2% to 10% of gross income, based on the family's gross income 
compared to the federal poveliy level in accordance with rules adopted by the 
depaltment. The departinent ,shall establish maximum rates for child care that are at 
least eaual to the 75th Dercentile of local market rates for variolls catefrories of child 
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care and higher rates for children \vith special needs. Parents must have a choice of 
child care within the rate established by the department. 
D. The depaIimellt shall pj'ovide limited transitional food benefits to meet needs of 
ASPIRE-T ANF program paIiicipants who lose eligibility forTANF assistance due to 
employment on or after July 1, 2008. 
Benefits must be provided for 3 years 
following loss of T ANF eligibility and may not exceed $100 per month per family for 
the first year, $75 p'er month per family for the 2nd year and $50.per month per, 
family for the 3rd year. 
Sec. 6. 22l\1RSA §3769, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. Transfer of funds; report. Notwithstanding any provision of law, except Title 5, 
section 1585, the department is authorized to transfer to the ASPIRE account, established 
. in Public Law 1997, chapter 24, as often as twice per fiscal year funds representing cost 
savings within the T ANF program resulting from ASPlRE-T ANF program paIiicipants' 
obtaining employment during that fiscal year. 
The depaIiment shall detennine the 
amount of savings in the aggregate by utilizing the number of ASPIRE-TANF program 
paIiicipants entering employment iil each qualier of the fiscal year. Funds appropriated 
to either account do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year. 
The depaIiment shall provide to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and health and human services 
matters a repOli tWice per year on the amount of funds transfelTed and the number of 
ASPIRE-T ANF program paIiicipants entering employment. 
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §3769-C, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 461, §1, IS 
repealed. 
Sec. 8. 22 MRS A §3788, sub-§4-A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §26, 
is further amended to read: 
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4-A. Family contract amendment. To the exte'nt that sufficient funds, training sites 
and employment opportunities are reasonably available, the department and a participant 
in the program shall enter into an amended family contract that must include both the 
department's and the participant's activities and the suppOli services necessary for the 
individual to participate in accordance with the assessment aftEl, the federal Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, 
Stat. 2105 and the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171, 120 
Stat. 4. 
Sec. 9. 22 MRSA §3788, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §~6, is 
further amended to read: 
6. Education, training and employment services. The ASPlRE-TANF program 
must make available a broad range of education, training and employment services in 
accordance with section 3 781-A, subsection 3 and the federal Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law, 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105 and 
the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171, 120 Stat. 4. 
These 
services and activities must include all of those services and activities offered by the 
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Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employinent Program on October 1, 
1989, except in 2-year and 4-yearpostsecondary education and except as provided in 
chapter 1054-B. 
This section does not prohibit the department from purchasing 
equivalent services from providers other than those from whom those services were 
purchased on October 1, J 989. When. a particular approved education or training service 
is available at comparable quality and Gost, including the cost of support services, and the 
iinplementation of the family contract would riot be unreasonably delayed, the program 
participant may choose to enroll for that service with the provider of that person's 
preference; If this decision is not mutually agreed to by the participant and the case 
manager, the decision must be reviewed by the case manager's supervisor. These services 
do not include reimbursement for the cost of tuition or mandatory fees for postsecondary 
education unless: 
A. The participant is unable to secure other educational funding needed to complete 
the participant's family contract due to: 
(1) Poor credit as determined by the educational funding source; or 
(2) The consideration by the educational f1ll1ding source of resources from past 
years that are not actually available to the participant; 
B. In the determination of the department, failure to pay the tuition or fee would 
result in higher ASPIRE-TANF program costs to achieve the participant's approved 
goal; or 
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C. The participant meets an exception specified in rules adopted by the department. 
When a substantially similar postsecondary education or training program of comparable 
quality is available at both a public and private institution, within a reasonable 
commuting distance for the participant, the department may choose to approve the 
program offered at the public institution if th~ participant's program can b.e completed at 
less cost at the institution. 
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Sec. 10. 22 MRS A §3788, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2005, c. 480,§ I, is 
further amended to read: 
10. Program design. The department shall operate the ASPIRE-TANF program 
under which individual participation is required for a minimum of20 hours per ",,reek in 
time limited components that include job search, work evaluation, education, training and 
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treatment and workforce MaineServe in accordance with the requirements of the federal 
Deficit Reduction Act of2005, Public Law 109-171, 120 Stat. 4. 
A. Individuals who are ready for jobs may participate in job search at any time. Up-
front job search must focus on new recipients who are ready for jobs who are eligible 
for TANF based on underemployment of the primary wage earner and new single-
parent recipients who are ready for jobs and whose children are 5 years of age or 
older. 
B. Work evaluation consists of all activities related to orientation, assessment and 
initial family contract fonTIulation. Work evaluation is limited toa maximum of 90 
days, unless extended by the commissioner or the designee of the commissioner. If 
an ASPIRE-TANF participant is determined by the department to be job ready, the 
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participant may access the workforce-MaineServe component directly from work 
eval~lation. 
C. Except for participants who are accepted into the Parents as Scholars Program 
established under section 3790, education, training and treatment is limited to a 
maximum of 24 months, starting with the first day of participation in any allowable 
and approved job skills or occupational skills training activity. The 24-month period 
may be extended by the commissioner or the designee of the commissioner for good 
8: 
cause shown. 
The depal1ment may approve ajob skills or occupational training activity longer than 
months provided the participant agrees to perform a minimum of 20 hours a week 
of work site experience by no later than the end of the 24-month period. Qualifying 
work site experience may include, but is not limited to, paid employment, workforce-
MaineServe, ASPIRE-Plus, work study, training-related practicums or any other such 
work site approved by the department. The 24-month period does not include periods 
of nonactivity in which good cause has been determined. 
For individuals who are satisfactorily participating in an education or training 
program prior to the work evaluation, the department must determine the 
acceptability of the activity for purposes of meeting the participation requirements of 
. this chapter using the same criteria as is used for any individual in the ASPIRE-
T ANF program. 
D. 
Workforce-Maine Serve consists of paid employment, subsidized employment, 
apprenticeships or other mandatory work activities, which may continue until the 
participant is ineligible for TANf.benefits .. 
Sec. 11. 
Transitional child care services; fiscal year 2009-10. 
Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3762, subsection 8, for 
fiscal year 2009-10, the Department of Health and Human Services may establish 
maximum income eligibility limits that are not less than 200% of the federal poverty 
guidelines for transitional child care services to families that lose eligibility for 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families pursuant to Title 22, chapter 1053-B. Income 
eligibility limits established pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 12. Change of food stamp program to food supplement program. 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Second Regular 
Session of the J 24th Legislature, no later than December 15, 2009, legislation to amend 
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the Maine Revised Statutes to reflect the change in the name of the statewide food stamp 
program under Title 22, section 3104 to the food supplement program and the name 
change of the benefits under that program in accordance with this Act. . 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes relating to the food stamp program and to the 
T ANF and A SPIRE-T ANF programs: 
It changes the terms "food stamp" to "food supplement" and "food stamp 
program" to "food supplement program." It changes references to mailing food stamps or 
coupons to the issuance of food allqtments ~py an e,ectronic benefits transfer system. It 
eliminates the requirement to print brochures . in other languages and to print 
announcements in French. 
It adds cross-references to the federal: Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 in the statute 
·that authorizes the administration of the TANF program and the ASPIRE program. 
It eliminates a requirement that transitional transportation benefits be. given for 90 
days and inserts a maximum benefit duration of 12 months. For transitional child care 
benefits, it eliminates references to income standards and rates of payment and authorizes 
the department instead to establish those by rule. 
. It reinstates authority to transfer certain funds and a rep0l1ing requirement that were 
mistakenly repealed during the First Regular· Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
It eliminates a reporting requirement comparing TANF benefit'leveis to those in other 
New England states; the provision was intended to have been repealed in the First 
Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature . 
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It eliminates a minimum participation requirement in the ASPIRE program to require 
the department to operate the ASPIRE program in accordance with the federal Deficit 
Reduc~ion Act of 2005 requirements .. 
It allows the Department of Health and Human Services to establish maximum 
eligibility limits, for fiscal year 2009-10 only, that are not less than 200% of the federal 
poveliy guidelines for certain families for transitional child care services. 
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It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report back with 
legislation correcting the Maine Revised Statutes.to reflect.the change in the name of the 
food stamp program and benefits. 
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