An Act To Impose a Lifetime Maximum on the Receipt of Welfare Benefits
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1511
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GUERIN, BICKFORD, EDGECOMB, ESPLING, MORISSETTE, O'CONNOR, OLSEN, SIROCKI
Amends: 22 MRSA §3762, 22 MRSA §4309

Legislative Document 
No. 1511 
H.P. 1114 
House of Representatives, April 26, 2011 
An Act To Impose a Lifetime Maximum on the Receipt of Welfare 
Benefits 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative GUERIN of Glenburn. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BICKFORD of Auburn, EDGECOMB of Caribou, 
ESPLING of New Gloucester, MORISSETTE of Winslow, O'CONNOR of Berwick, OLSEN 
of Phippsburg, SIROCKI of Scarborough. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3762, sub-§15, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 695, §1, is repealed. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3762, sub-§18 is enacted to read: 
18.  Lifetime limit on assistance.  There is a maximum lifetime limit on the length 
of time an adult may receive TANF assistance of 60 months, except that a person that 
received TANF benefits for 60 months may reapply for TANF in an emergency situation 
after the recipient has not received assistance for 5 years. The department shall adopt 
major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to define 
"emergency situation." 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §4309, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1989, c. 840, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Eligibility of applicant; duration of eligibility.  The overseer shall determine 
eligibility each time a person applies or reapplies for general assistance pursuant to this 
chapter and the ordinance adopted by the municipality in accordance with section 4305.  
The period of eligibility must may not exceed one month.  At the expiration of that period 
the person may reapply for assistance and the person's eligibility may be redetermined.  
There is a maximum lifetime limit on the length of time a person may receive general 
assistance of 24 months, except that the overseer, at the overseer's discretion, may accept 
an application from a person who has reached the limit of 24 months.  If the overseer 
accepts an application for general assistance from a person who has reached the limit of 
months, the municipality is wholly responsible for funding the general assistance. 
Sec. 4.  Rulemaking.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt 
routine technical rules, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A, to implement the 60-month lifetime limitation of benefits under the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program pursuant to Title 22, section 3762, 
subsection 18. 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt major substantive rules, 
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to establish a process for the 
reapplication by an individual to receive assistance in an emergency situation after the 
60-month limit has been reached under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
program pursuant to Title 22, section 3762, subsection 18. 
Sec. 5.  Effective date.  Those sections of this Act that repeal the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, section 3762, subsection 15, enact Title 22, section 3762, subsection 18 
and amend Title 22, section 4309, subsection 1 take effect January 1, 2012. 
SUMMARY 
This bill reforms the welfare system in Maine by: 
1.  Limiting the total time a person may receive Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families, or TANF, assistance to a lifetime maximum of 60 months as an adult, except 
for emergency situations; and 
2.  Limiting the total time a person may receive municipal general assistance to a 
lifetime maximum of 24 months, except in limited circumstances. 
The changes take effect January 1, 2012.