Resolve, To Establish the Task Force on Independence from Public Assistance
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1064
Committee Amendment CA_A_H270 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 757, L.D. 1064, "Resolve, To Establish 
the Task Force on Independence from Public Assistance" 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 2 (page 1, lines 17 to 28 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 
members appointed as follows: 
1. Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2. Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature; 
3. 
Three members appointed by the Governor who possess expertise in public 
assistance programs and programs to assist people to achieve employment. One member 
must represent the executive branch, one member must represent municipal 
administrators of general assistance programs and one member must represent employers 
in the State; 
4. 
One member appointed by the President of the Senate who represents the 
academic community and possesses policy and research expertise in public assistance 
programs and poverty; and 
5. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House who possess expertise in 
public assistance programs. One member must represent nonprofit organizations and 
possess policy expertise in public assistance programs that help people move out of 
poverty, and one member must be a person who has successfully transitioned from 
poverty and reliance on the State's public benefit programs to sustainable employment; 
and be it further' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 6 (page 2, lines 6 to 13 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT·A " to H.P. 757, L.D. 1064 
'Sec. 6. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall meet up to 8 times to review 
and make evidence-based recommendations, including any suggested legislation, on 
initiatives needed to help families receiving municipal, state or federal public assistance 
move out of poverty to independence through employment. The task force shall identify 
any provisions in current state policy, law and rules that penalize or create a disincentive 
to work and make needed recommendations to eliminate any such barriers and propose 
new policies that support and promote stable and lasting employment. In performing its 
work, the task force shall review categories of public assistance available to residents of 
the State and eligibility requirements; termination of eligibility, assistance and benefits; 
transitional assistance and benefits; barriers to independence from public assistance; 
related legislative reports and academic research conducted in the State; and initiatives to 
assist people to achieve employment; and be it further' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment increases the membership of the Task Force on Independence from 
Public Assistance from 9 members to l3 members. In addition to the task force's duties 
in the resolve, the amendment requires the task force to identify provisions in current 
state. policy, law and rules that penalize or create a disincentive to work and make 
recommendations on how to eliminate those barriers and to review legislative and 
academic studies conducted in Maine. It clarifies that recommendations made to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services must be evidence-based. 
FISCAL NOTE REQlilRED 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Approved: 05128/13 
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LD 1064 
LR 637(02) 
Resolve, To Establish the Task Force on Independence from Public Assistance 
Fiscal Note for BiD as Amended by Committee Amendment;il' / H -J. 70 ') 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
( I 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this task force are projected to be $7,500 in fiscal year 2013-14. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $10,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 for legislative studies. 
Whether the amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the 
Legislative Council and the Legislature. The additional costs associated with providing staff assistance to the task 
force during the interim between legislative sessions can be absorbed by the Legislature utilizing existing budgeted 
resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The Department of Health and Human Services will incur some additional costs related to serving on the Task Force 
on Independence from Public Assistance as well as providing information and assistance to the task force. These 
costs can be absorbed by the department within existing budgeted resources. 
Any additional costs incurred by the Maine State Housing Authority related to providing information and assistance to 
the Task Force on Independence from Public Assistance can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0637(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1