An Act To Limit Eligibility under the Municipal General Assistance Program
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1862
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: SAVIELLO, CASAVANT, McCORMICK
Amends: 22 MRSA §4301, 22 MRSA §4309

Legislative Document 
No. 1862 
S.P. 647 
In Senate, March 12, 2012 
An Act To Limit Eligibility under the Municipal General Assistance 
Program 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin. 
Cosponsored by Representative CASAVANT of Biddeford and 
Senator: McCORMICK of Kennebec. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, in Public Law 2011, chapter 380, the Legislature enacted legislation that 
as of January 1, 2012 retroactively implements a 60-month lifetime limit on Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families, or "TANF," program benefits; and 
Whereas, according to the family independence office of the Department of Health 
and Human Services, over 3,000 families have met or will soon meet the 60-month 
lifetime limit; and 
Whereas, the municipal general assistance program, which is administered by 
municipalities and funded by the State and municipalities, was designed as a program of 
last resort, available only for a limited period of time "for the immediate aid of persons 
who are unable to provide the basic necessities essential to maintain themselves or their 
families"; and 
Whereas, under the municipal general assistance program funding formula, 40% of 
the approximately $16,000,000 program is funded with local property tax dollars; and 
Whereas, while over 3,000 families may no longer be eligible for TANF program 
benefits, those families remain eligible for municipal general assistance program benefits; 
and 
Whereas, the TANF lifetime limit will place most of the burden on the State’s more 
populated Department of Health and Human Services regional areas, including: Augusta, 
with 293 families; Bangor, with 267 families; Biddeford, with 122 families; Calais, with 
families; Caribou, with 73 families; Ellsworth, with 50 families; Farmington, with 93 
families; Fort Kent, with 64 families; Houlton, with 49 families; Lewiston, with 606 
families; Portland, with 545 families; Rockland, with 328 families; Sanford, with 164 
families; South Paris, with 235 families; and Skowhegan, with 133 families; and  
Whereas, additional families will reach the 60-month lifetime limit each month; and 
Whereas, the decisions of the Legislature to limit the State's fiscal exposure to 
assistance programs should not place additional burdens on Maine property taxpayers; 
and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §4301, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 577, §1, is amended 
to read: 
3.  Eligible person.  "Eligible person" means a person who is qualified to receive 
general assistance from a municipality according to standards of eligibility determined by 
the municipal officers whether or not that person has applied for general assistance. A 
person who is a member of a household that is ineligible to receive benefits under the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program because the household has reached 
the 60-month lifetime benefit limit imposed pursuant to section 3762, subsection 18 is 
ineligible to receive general assistance for the duration of the ineligibility of that 
household for benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §4309, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Eligibility based on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program 
benefits.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a person who is a 
member of a household that is ineligible to receive benefits under the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families program because the household has reached the 60-month 
lifetime benefit limit imposed pursuant to section 3762, subsection 18 is ineligible to 
receive general assistance for the duration of the ineligibility of that household for 
benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill excludes from eligibility for a municipal general assistance program a 
person who is a member of a household that is ineligible to receive Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families program benefits because the household has exhausted the 60-month 
lifetime limit on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program benefits.