An Act To Reduce Abuse of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program through Restriction of Electronic Benefits Transfers
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1820
Committee Amendment CA_A_H792 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~, to H.P. 1309, L.D. 1820, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Abuse of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program through 
Restriction of Electronic Benefits Transfers" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Develop a 
Report with Data on Out-of-state Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families Program Benefits' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop report with 
data on out-of-state access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
program benefits. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, 
referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall develop a report with data on out-of-
state access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program benefits using the 
electronic benefits transfer system. 
The report must include data on transactions at 
automated teller machines and electronic points of sale, types of establishments where 
benefits are used, purchases at electronic points of sale and the duration of continuous 
access of benefits outside of the State. The department shall work with the Office of the 
Attorney General to investigate possible misuse of benefits, including accessing benefits 
at establishments that are designated as unauthorized under the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 22, section 23 and benefits continuously used outside of the State that warrant 
further investigation into determining Maine residency, and shall include those findings 
in the report. The department shall submit the report including proposed actions and 
statutory recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services no later than November 1,2014.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 1309, L.D. 1820 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill with 
a resolve. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a report 
on out-of-state access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program benefits to 
be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later 
than November 1, 2014. The report must include data on out-of-state transactions at 
automated teller machines and electronic points of sale, the types of establishments where 
benefits are accessed, the type of purchases made using point-of-sale transactions and the 
duration of continuous access out of state. 
The Department of Health and Human 
Services is required to work with the Office of the Attorney General to investigate 
possible misuse of benefits and whether continuous use outside of the State means the 
individual accessing those benefits is no longer a resident of the State. 
FISCAL ~OTf: REQllRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 04/01114 
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LD 1820 
LR 2784(02) 
An Act To Reduce Abuse of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program through 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Restriction of Electronic Benefits Transfers 
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Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ft CH"" 79!l..) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the provisions of this bill are 
assumed to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2784(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1