Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Make Recommendations To Improve the Efficiency, Accountability and Proper Administration of Municipal General Assistance Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1039
Committee Amendment CA_A_H540 (House)
Committee: Health and Human Services

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" {i" to H.P. 773, L.D. 1039, "Resolve, To Create a 
Working Group To Make Recommendations To Improve the Efficiency, Accountability 
and Proper Administration of Municipal General Assistance Programs" 
Amend the resolve in section 2 in the first paragraph in the 2nd line (page 1, line 9 in 
L.D.) by striking out the following: "9" and inserting the following: '10' 
Amend the resolve in section 2 by inserting after subsection 1 the following: 
'2. The general assistance program manager in the Department of Health and Human 
Services;' 
Amend the resolve in section 2 by renumbering the subsections to read consecutively. 
Amend the resolve in section 4 in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 35 in 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: "properly" the following: " uniformly' 
Amend the resolve in section 4 by inserting after subsection 2 the following: 
'3. 
Examine whether there are other income sources, such as unemployment 
insurance and the Circuitbreaker Program, that should be counted as income sources for 
calculating general assistance; 
4. 
Examine the appropriate calculation of lump-sum payments for calculating 
general assistance and the level of debt of the applicant due to catastrophic events; 
5. Study the appropriate term of ineligibility for general assistance following a work 
requirement violation, discharge for misconduct or refusal to use an available resource;' 
Amend the resolve in section 4 by renumbering the subsections to read consecutively. 
Amend the resolve in section 5 in the last line (page 2, line 19 in L.D.) by inserting 
after the following: "the" the following: 'Director of the' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 6 and inserting the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
". 
~~. 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT" ~"to H.P. 773, L.D. 1039 
'Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That, no later than February 15, 2012, the working 
group shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. 
Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
Office of Integrated Access and Support - Central Office Z020 
Initiative: Appropriates and allocates funds for the salary and benefit costs of 2 
limited-period positions, one Family Independence Program Manager and one Customer 
Representative Associate II, to complete General Assistance program research, analysis 
and data collection from municipalities. These positions end June 15,2012. 
GENERAL FUND 
Personal Services 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
Personal Services 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2011-12 
$52,917 
$52,917 
2011-12 
$52,917 
$52,917 
2012-13 
$0 
$0 
2012-13 
$0 
$0 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the resolve, which creates a 
working group to study and to make recommendations regarding the administration of 
general assistance programs. 
1. It adds the general assistance program manager in the Department of Health and 
Human Services to the working group, increasing the number of members of the group 
from 9-to 10. 
2. It adds to the duties ofthe working group so that the group examines uniformity of 
general assistance administration, studies whether additional sources of income should be 
included in the calculation of general assistance, determines whether lump-sum payments 
should be calculated differently and studies whether the length of ineligibility following a 
work requirement violation, discharge for misconduct or refusal to use an available 
resource is appropriate. 
3. It clarifies that the Director of the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis must be 
notified of meetings ofthe working group. 
4. It clarifies that the report from the working group must be submitted to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "ft' to H.P. 773, L.D. 1039 
5. It adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/02/11 
;:t:vac-: 
LD 1039 
LR 1813(02) 
Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Make Recommendations To Improve the Efficiency, 
Accountability and Proper Administration of Municipal General Assistance Programs 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" f}n 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2011-12 
FY 2012-13 
Projections 
FY 2013-14 
Projections 
FY2014-15 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations! Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$52,917 
$52,917 
$52,917 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Provides a one-time appropriation of$52,917 in 2011-12 and a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of 
$52,917 in 2011-12 for the salary and benefit costs of two limited period positions, one Family Independence Program 
Manager and one Customer Representative Associate II, to complete General Assistance program research, analysis 
and data collection from municipalities. These positions will end on June 15,2012. 
LRI813(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1