An Act To Reform Welfare by Establishing Bridges to Sustainable Employment
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1268
Committee Amendment CA_A_H650 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-J, 22 MRSA §3110, 22 MRSA §3762, 22 MRSA §3788-C, 22 MRSA §3790

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fr,, to H.P. 868, L.D. 1268, Bill, "An Act To 
Reform Welfare by Establishing Bridges to Sustainable Employment" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-J, sub-§18 is enacted to read: 
18. 
Human Services 
Independent 
Not Authorized 
Citizens Oversight 
Committee 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §§3109 to 3111 are enacted to read: 
MRSA §3110 
§3109. 
Promoting accountable public programs that reduce child poverty and 
increase sustainable employment for individuals rece1vmg public 
assistance 
The department shall implement a system of accountability measurements to 
determine the performance of certain programs administered by the department under this 
subtitle by examining the outcomes of families and individuals participating in those 
programs on an annual basis in accordance with this section. These outcome measures 
must provide the basis to measure over time the extent to which those programs have 
alleviated poverty and hardship among children, families and individuals through 
employment, education and training, individualized services for those with barriers to 
employment and other services. 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Automated client eligibility system" means the department's fully integrated 
system for the coordination of all benefits eligibility programs. 
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B. "Federal poverty level" has the same meaning as in section 3762, subsection 1, 
paragraph C.. 
C. "Food insecurity" means limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate 
and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially 
acceptable ways. 
D. 
"TANF" means the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program 
established under chapter 1053-B. 
2. Child poverty measures. The department shall obtain data on the following 
outcomes for families in this State on an annual basis: 
A. The percentage of households with dependent children living at or below 100% of 
the federal poverty level; 
B. The percentage of households with dependent children headed by single parents 
living at or below 100% of the federal poverty level; 
C. The percentage of households with dependent children living at or below 50% of 
the federal poverty level; 
D. The percentage of households with dependent children who are homeless; 
E. 
The percentage of T ANF participants with a high school diploma or general 
equivalency diploma or the equivalent; 
F. The percentage of T ANF participants with a postsecondary degree or certificate; 
G. The percentage of people experiencing food insecurity: and 
H. The percentage of people experiencing very low food security as defined by the 
United States Department of Agriculture. 
3. Employment and earnings measures. The department shall obtain income, 
earnings and other data required to determine outcomes pursuant to this section from its 
automated client eligibility system as verified and supplemented from a quarterly wage 
database compiled by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The 
department shall gather data on the following outcomes for all T ANF cash assistance 
cases that include an adult leaving T ANF in each quarter during the state fiscal year: 
A. The number and percentage of families with earnings in the 2nd and 4th quarters 
of the fiscal year after leaving T ANF: 
B. The mean and median amount of earnings for families in the 2nd and 4th quarters 
of the fiscal year after leaving T ANF; 
C. The number and percentage of families with earnings below 100%: between 
100% and 150%: between 151 % and 200%; and in excess of 200% of the federal 
poverty level in the 2nd and 4th quarters of the fiscal year after leaving TANF: 
D. For families that continue to participate in the statewide food supplement program 
established pursuant to section 3104 or MaineCare, the number and percentage of 
families with no income and those with income including, but not limited to, earnings 
from employment below 50%: between 51 % and 100%: between 101 % and 150%: 
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and between 151 % and 200% of the federal poverty level in the 2nd and 4th quarters 
of the fiscal year after leaving TANF; and 
E. For families with children under 5 years of age that continue to participate in the 
statewide food supplement program established pursuant to section 3104 or 
MaineCare, the number and share of families with no income and those with income 
including, but not limited to, earnings from employment below 50% and between 
% and 100% of the federal poverty level. 
4. Benchmarks and goals established. The department shall use the data gathered 
pursuant to subsections 2 and 3 to establish benchmarks for earnings measures under 
subsection 3, as well as goals for the department along with performance measures to 
establish progress in meeting those goals. By January 15, 2017, the department shall 
establish a performance baseline for each earnings measure under subsection 3. 
5. Report. By January 30, 2018, and annually thereafter, the department shall report 
the results of the benchmarks established pursuant to subsection 4 and the progress in 
meeting goals in the preceding year to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over human services matters. If the department does not successfully 
meet the goals, the department shall identify the factors that affected the ability to meet 
those goals and provide a plan for overcoming the obstacles in order to meet the 
benchmarks the following year. The department's plan must be reviewed by both the 
Independent Citizens Oversight Committee established pursuant to section 3110 and the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human services 
matters. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human 
services matters may introduce legislation that it considers necessary to improve the 
department's ability to meet its benchmarks and goals in the following year. 
§3110. Independent Citizens Oversight Committee 
The Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, referred to in this section as "the 
committee," is established to monitor the department's progress in establishing 
benchmarks and progress in meeting goals as described in section 3109, subsection 4 and 
to inform the public concerning the progress made by the department with regard to these 
benchmarks and goals. 
1. 
Support. 
The department shall provide the committee with the necessary 
technical assistance, administrative assistance and resources to publicize the conclusions 
of the committee. 
2. 
Information sharing. 
The department shall provide the committee with 
responses to all findings, recommendations and concerns addressed in the annual 
independent report on progress made with respect to meeting benchmarks and goals 
under subsection 5. 
3. Public meetings. All meetings of the committee are open to the public and public 
notice must be provided pursuant to Title 1, section 406. 
4. Membership. The committee consists of at least 9 members who serve for a 
minimum term of 2 years and for no more than 3 consecutive terms. Members may not 
receive compensation. Members are appointed as follows: 
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A. A member active in a business organization representing the business community. 
appointed by the President of the Senate; 
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B. A member representing a senior citizens organization, appointed by the President 
of the Senate: 
C. A member representing a charitable community foundation. appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
D. A member representing an organization that represents the interests of persons 
with disabilities. appointed by the President of the Senate; 
E. A member of a community college or state university. appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; 
F. A member who is a parent or guardian of at least one minor child. appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
G. A member representing a community social service organization. appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
H. A member representing an organization that provides vocational or employment 
services. appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 
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I. A member of an organization serving the community's health needs, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Notwithstanding paragraphs D and G. a state employee or official. vendor. contractor or 
consultant of the State may not be appointed to the committee. 
5. Report. By March 1. 2018, and annually thereafter. the committee shall provide a 
report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human 
services matters on the department's progress in meeting benchmarks and goals 
established in section 3109. subsection 4. 
§3111. Streamlining and coordinating access to assistance 
The department shall promote family economic self-support by ensuring that families 
and individuals are aware of, and have expedient access to, programs that may assist them 
in gaining and maintaining employment and meeting their basic needs. To achieve that 
goal. the department shall provide through its automated client eligibility system, as 
defined in section 3109, subsection 1. paragraph A, the opportunity to apply for or obtain 
the state earned income credit established pursuant to Title 36, section 5219-S. the 
property tax fairness credit established pursuant to Title 36. section 5219-Il, income tax 
credits for child care expenses established pursuant to Title 36, section 5218. 
unemployment insurance benefits established pursuant to Title 26, chapter 13 and 
assistance from available low-income heating assistance programs. 
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§3, ,e, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. RRRR, 
§2, is further amended to read: 
B. The department may use funds, insofar as resources permit, provided under and in 
accordance with the United States Social Security Act or state funds appropriated for 
this purpose or a combination of state and federal funds to provide assistance to 
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families under this chapter. In addition to assistance for families described in this 
subsection, funds must be expended for the following purposes: 
(1) To continue the pass-through of the first $50 per month of current child 
support collections and the exclusion of the $50 pass-through from the budget 
tests and benefit calculations; 
(2) To provide financial assistance to noncitizens legally admitted to the United 
States who are receiving assistance under this subsection as of July 1, 2011. 
Recipients of assistance under this subparagraph are limited to the categories of 
noncitizens who would be eligible for the T ANF programs but for their status as 
aliens under PRWORA. Eligibility for the TANF program for these categories of 
noncitizens must be determined using the criteria applicable to other recipients of 
assistance from the T ANF program. Any household receiving assistance as of 
July 1, 2011 may continue to receive assistance, as long as that household 
remains eligible, without regard to interruptions in coverage or gaps in eligibility 
for service. A noncitizen legally admitted to the United States who is neither 
receiving assistance on July 1, 2011 nor has an application pending for assistance 
on July 1, 2011 that is later approved is not eligible for financial assistance 
through a state-funded program unless that noncitizen is: 
(a) Elderly or disabled, as described under the laws governing supplemental 
security income in 42 United States Code, Sections 1381 to 1383f (2010); 
(b) A victim of domestic violence; 
( c) Experiencing other hardship, such as time necessary to obtain proper 
work documentation, as defined by the department by rule. Rules adopted by 
the department under this division are routine technical rules as defined by 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; or 
(d) Unemployed but has obtained proper work documentation, as defined by 
the department by rule. Rules adopted by the department under this division 
are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; 
(3) To provide benefits to certain 2-parent families whose deprivation is based on 
physical or mental incapacity; 
(4) To provide an assistance program for needy children, 19 to 21 years of age, 
who are in full-time attendance in secondary school. The program is operated for 
those individuals who qualify for T ANF under the United States Social Security 
Act, except that they fail to meet the age requirement, and is also operated for the 
parent or caretaker relative of those individuals. Except for the age requirement, 
all provisions of T ANF, including the standard of need and the amount of 
assistance, apply to the program established pursuant to this subparagraph; 
(5) To provide assistance for a pregnant woman who is otherwise eligible for 
assistance under this chapter, except that she has no dependents under 19 years of 
age. An individual is eligible for the monthly benefit for one eligible person if 
the medically substantiated expected date of the birth of her child is not more 
than 90 days following the date the benefit is received; 
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(6) To provide a special housing allowance for TANF families whose shelter 
expenses for rent, mortgage or similar payments, homeowners insurance and 
property taxes equal or exceed 75% of their monthly income. 
The special 
housing allowance is limited to $200 per month for each family. For purposes of 
this subparagraph, "monthly income" means the total of the T ANF monthly 
benefit and all income countable under the T ANF program, plus child support 
received by the family, excluding the $50 pass-through payment; 
(6-A) Beginning October l, 2016, to provide housing assistance for TANF 
families whose shelter expenses for rent equal or exceed 50% of their monthly 
income and who have applied for, but not yet received, a housing choice voucher 
administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, Office of Housing Choice Vouchers and funded with federal 
T ANF block grant dollars. This housing assistance must be administered through 
the Maine State Housing Authority, and the department shall provide a 
reasonable administrative fee to the Maine State Housing Authority for the cost 
of administering the housing assistance program. 
The following conditions 
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(a) A T ANF family may receive the housing assistance if the rent for the 
family's housing meets the fair market rent standards published by the United 
States Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 24 Code 
of Federal Regulations, Section 888.115 for the area in which the family's 
housing is located and meets any housing quality standards adopted by the 
Maine State Housing Authority; 
(b) A TANF family receiving housing assistance shall pay the same portion 
of the family's income toward rent as required by the formula used by a 
housing choice voucher program administered by the United States 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Housing Choice 
Vouchers; 
(c) A TANF family who receives housing assistance under this subparagraph 
is not eligible to receive the special housing allowance under subparagraph 
(6) and, in addition, must have a reduction in the family's monthly T ANF 
assistance of $100; 
(d) A TANF family who receives no TANF cash assistance as a result of the 
reduction under division (c) continues to remain eligible for TANF and all 
other services available under this chapter as long as the T ANF family 
continues to meet all other conditions of eligibility for ASPIRE-T ANF; and 
(e) A TANF family who is ineligible for or who cannot accept a housing 
choice voucher under this subparagraph and whose shelter expenses for rent 
equal or exceed 75% of the family's monthly income is eligible to receive the 
special housing allowance provided under subparagraph (6). 
The department shall adopt routine technical rules, as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A, to implement the provisions of this subparagraph: 
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(7) In determining benefit levels for T ANF recipients who have earnings from 
employment, the department shall disregard from monthly earnings the 
following: 
(a) One hundred and eight dollars; 
(b) Fifty percent of the remaining earnings that are less than the federal 
poverty level; and 
( c) All actual child care costs necessary for work, except that the department 
may limit the child care disregard to $175 per month per child or $200 per 
month per child under 2 years of age or with special needs; 
(7-A) In determining eligibility and benefit levels, the department may apply a 
gross income test only to applicants and not to recipients; 
(8) In cases when the T ANF recipient has no child care cost, the monthly T ANF 
benefit is the maximum payment level or the difference between the countable 
earnings and the standard of need established by rule adopted by the department, 
whichever is lower; 
(9) In cases when the T ANF recipient has child care costs, the department shall 
determine a total benefit package, including T ANF cash assistance, determined in 
accordance with subparagraph (7) and additional child care assistance, as 
provided by rule, necessary to cover the T ANF recipient's actual child care costs 
up to the maximum amount specified in section 3782-A, subsection 5. 
The 
benefit amount must be paid as provided in this subparagraph. 
(a) Before the first month in which child care assistance is available to an 
ASPIRE-T ANF recipient under this paragraph and periodically thereafter, the 
department shall notify the recipient of the total benefit package and the 
following options of the recipient: to receive the total benefit package 
directly; or to have the department pay the recipient's child care assistance 
directly to the designated child care provider for the recipient and pay the 
balance of the total benefit package to the recipient. 
(b) If an ASPIRE-T ANF recipient notifies the department that the recipient 
chooses to receive the child care assistance directly, the department shall pay 
the total benefit package to the recipient. 
( c) 
If an ASPIRE-T ANF recipient does not respond or notifies· the 
department of the choice to have the child care assistance paid directly to the 
child care provider from the total benefit package, the department shall pay 
the child care assistance directly to the designated child care provider for the 
recipient. The department shall pay the balance of the total benefit package 
to the recipient; 
(10) Child care assistance under this paragraph must be paid by the department 
in a prompt manner that permits an ASPIRE-TANF recipient to access child care 
necessary for work; and 
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(11) 
The department shall adopt rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375 to 
implement this subsection. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subparagraph are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§8, ,rG is enacted to read: 
G. The department shall make available transitional housing assistance to a family 
who loses eligibility for TANF as a result of increased earnings or an increase in the 
number of hours worked and whose income does not exceed 50% of the median 
income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family lives. Housing 
assistance must be administered by the Maine State Housing Authority in the same 
manner as provided for in subsection 3, paragraph B, subparagraph (6-A). The 
family's share of rent must increase relative to the family's earnings in the same 
manner as the housing choice voucher program administered by the United States 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Housing Choice 
Vouchers. 
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§21 is enacted to read: 
21. Transitional Jobs Program. The department shall establish the Transitional 
Jobs Program for participants unable to find employment through conventional means in 
accordance with the service delivery model described in section 3788-C. 
The 
Transitional Jobs Program, referred to in this subsection as "the program," must assist a 
participant in gaining access to transitional employment with earnings to improve 
employability in a competitive work environment through increased work experience. 
The program must be established in accordance with this subsection. 
A. In addition to those determined eligible to participate in the program pursuant to 
section 3788-A, the department shall provide notice and an opportunity to all families 
to apply for a transitional job who are within 90 days of reaching the 60-month limit 
on assistance pursuant to subsection 18 and are not yet employed or engaged in a 
qualified educational program such as Parents as Scholars Program as established in 
chapter 1054-B. 
B. A person determined eligible to participate in the program receives assistance in 
accordance with rules adopted by the department for: 
( 1) Subsidized wages for employment for 6 months not to exceed 40 hours a 
week in accordance with department rules; and 
(2) Support services that are necessary to successfully engage in employment 
and that are available under the ASPIRE-T ANF program. 
C. An employer participating in the program receives a subsidy toward wages paid to 
a person determined eligible to participate in the program under paragraph B 
equalling 75% of total wages for the first 3 months and 50% of wages for the next 3 
months if the employer: 
( 1) Provides wages, hours and other conditions of work comparable to those 
available for similar employment in the employer's locality; 
(2) Agrees to provide meaningful work experience that will increase the person's 
future employability; 
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(3) Provides wage and employment data as required by the department; and 
(4) 
Agrees to give preference for any job available at that employer's 
establishment at the end of the 6-month period for which a person is qualified to 
participate if that person has performed satisfactorily during the transitional 6-
month employment period. 
D. 
The department shall collect the following information to evaluate the 
performance of the program: 
( 1) The number of employees participating in the program; 
(2) The average and median length of time persons participated in the program; 
(3) The average and median wages paid to employees in the program; 
( 4) The employment status of the employee at the completion of participation in 
the program; 
(5) The employment status of employees who have completed the program at the 
end of the 2nd and 4th quarters following the end of their participation in the 
program; 
( 6) The number of employers participating in the program; and 
(7) The number of employees who remained as permanent employees at the 
termination of the program. 
E. By February 1, 2018. and annually thereafter. the department shall submit an 
annual report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over human services matters on the status of the program and on the evaluation data 
collected and analyzed pursuant to paragraph D. 
The department shall adopt rules to implement the program in a manner that maximizes 
successful and meaningful employment opportunities for participants and provides for the 
program's fair and efficient administration in accordance with this subsection. Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5. 
chapter 375. subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §3788-C is enacted to read: 
§3788-C. Self-sufficiency continuum 
The department shall design and implement a service delivery model to address 
individual family needs based on the varying levels of education. work experience. 
physical or mental health and other conditions that affect the ability to work. Based on 
the family profile developed during the comprehensive screening and assessment 
completed pursuant to section 3788. subsection 3-A that identifies barriers to employment 
including those related to health. education. training and disability. a family must be 
referred to the program that provides the most appropriate array of services and supports 
needed for the family to reach self-sufficiency. 
1. Crisis resolution track. A family facing emergency circumstances. including 
domestic violence, homelessness or imminent risk of homelessness or other 
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circumstances that threaten the immediate health or safety of the family, must be referred 
to a crisis resolution track. A family may remain in this track for up to 4 months, during 
which time the focus must be on stabilizing the health and safety of the family so that the 
parent or caretaker relative may become ready to engage in another track and move 
toward employment. 
2. Employment track. A person who is not facing emergency circumstances as 
described in subsection 1 and is not yet employed shall engage in the most appropriate 
employment track based on the family profile developed during the comprehensive 
screening and assessment under section 3788, subsection 3-A unless the assessment 
indicates that participation in an education and training track provided under subsection 3 
is more appropriate due to low education or skill levels. The department shall determine 
which of the following employment tracks is appropriate. 
A. The department shall provide a person with low personal or health barriers and 
moderate to high levels of education or skills, as determined by the comprehensive 
screening and assessment completed pursuant to section 3788, subsection 3-A, with 
services geared toward rapid employment. The focus of such services is on job 
preparation, job search, job placement, job retention and family sustainability through 
employment. 
B. The department shall provide a person who has been unsuccessful in finding 
employment through conventional means with a work-based source of earned income 
and labor market experience through the Transitional Jobs Program established 
pursuant to section 3762, subsection 21 to prepare that person for unsubsidized 
employment. 
C. The department shall provide a person with high personal or health barriers and 
high levels of education or skills, as determined by the comprehensive screening and 
assessment completed pursuant to section 3788, subsection 3-A, with case 
management and connect the person to intensive social and medical services, 
including but not limited to health services, mental health services and rehabilitation 
services to address these barriers. 
D. The department shall provide a person with high personal or health barriers due to 
temporary or permanent disability and low levels of education or skills, as determined 
by the comprehensive screening and assessment completed pursuant to section 3788, 
subsection 3-A, with case management services including physical and mental health 
services and rehabilitative services to address these barriers. 
A person with a 
permanent disability must receive access to a supplemental security income advocacy 
program that helps people with disabilities attain federal social security disability 
insurance benefits or federal supplemental security income benefits. 
3. Education and training track. A person with low education or skill levels, as 
determined by the comprehensive screening and assessment completed pursuant to 
section 3788, subsection 3-A, or for whom work-limiting illness or disability prevents the 
person in finding employment that is appropriate for the person's work experience who 
would benefit from additional education or training shall take steps toward increasing 
employability by participating in the most appropriate education and training track based 
on the family profile developed during the comprehensive screening and assessment 
under section 3788, subsection 3-A. To the greatest extent feasible, no adult will leave 
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the ASPIRE-TANF program without a high school diploma or equivalent. Once a person 
is ready for employment, that person must move to the employment track. 
The 
department shall determine which of the following education and training tracks is 
appropriate. 
A. The department shall provide a person with low education or skills, as determined 
by the comprehensive screening and assessment completed pursuant to section 3788, 
subsection 3-A, the opportunity to enhance that person's education or skills through 
school, vocational training, work experience and community service in order to 
become employable. 
B. A person eligible for the Parents as Scholars Program pursuant to chapter 1054-B 
must be informed of the program and offered the opportunity to enroll. As long as 
the enrollment limit established in section 3790 has not been reached, the family must 
be permitted to meet the family's program requirements through participation in the 
Parents as Scholars Program. 
4. 
Working families track. 
The department shall disregard certain monthly 
earnings in accordance with section 3762, subsection 3, paragraph B, subparagraph (7) 
for families in unsubsidized employment pursuant to section 3762, subsection 21. These 
families must receive work supports needed for employment in accordance with this 
chapter until the family becomes ineligible for T ANF. 
Fallowing termination from 
T ANF as a result of wages or hours or employment, the family is eligible to receive 
transitional support services for working families in accordance with section 3762. 
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §3790, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. Alternative eligibility. Notwithstanding subsection 2, a family with minor 
children that does not qualify for T ANF but whose income does not exceed 150% of the 
federal poverty level, as defined section 3762, subsection 1, paragraph C, is eligible to 
participate in the program as long as the enrollment limit in subsection 1 has not been 
reached. A participant is eligible for the same support services that are available to a 
person eligible for the T ANF program who is enrolled in the Parents as Scholars Program 
but the participant is not eligible to receive cash assistance as provided under the T ANF 
program. The department shall adopt routine technical rules, as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A, to implement the provisions of this subsection. 
Sec. 8. 22 MRSA §3790, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 
3-A. 
Coordination with state educational institutions and programs. 
The 
department shall accept referrals from educational institutions or programs that are part of 
the University of Maine System; the Maine Community College System: the Jobs for 
Maine's Graduates Program as established in Title 20-A, section 6901: an adult education 
program as established in Title 20-A, chapter 315: and the career centers established by 
the Department of Labor for eligible applicants for the program along with a letter from 
the prospective student expressing a desire to enroll in the program. Such a letter, along 
with a referral, must be considered an application for enrollment in the program and must 
be processed in accordance with department rule. The department shall notify these 
institutions or programs of the opportunity to refer prospective students in accordance 
with this subsection. 
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Sec. 9. 
Federal funding. 
Any administrative, technological or other costs 
associated with the purposes of the Act for families eligible for the Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families program must be funded by using the federal block grant funding 
allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services within the State Family 
Assistance Grant of the T ANF program. 
Sec. 10. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138 
Initiative: Provides funding for one Management Analyst I position to streamline and 
coorodinate access to assistance programs and for 20 Eligibility Specialist positions to 
implement a new eligibility program for educational services, to provide access and 
application support for various tax credits and to support an additional eligibility group. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138 
2015-16 
0.000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
21.000 
$1,424,689 
$179,665 
$1,604,354 
Initiative: Provides funds for technology updates to obtain data and determine measures 
related to employment and earnings. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$1,259,000 
$1,259,000 
2016-17 
$2,863,354 
$2,863,354 
Sec. 11. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 868, L.D. 1268 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138 
Initiative: Provides funding for housing assistance. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138 
Initiative: Provides funding for transitional housing. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2015-16 
2016-17 
$0 
$10,996,201 
$0 
$10,996,201 
2015-16 
2016-17 
$0 
$7,009,985 
$0 
$7,009,985 
2015-16 
2016-17 
$0 
$18,006,186 
$0 
$18,006,186 
Sec. 12. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS) 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138 
Initiative: Provides funding for alternative eligibility. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$8,083,369 
$8,083,369 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. It 
makes the following changes to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, T ANF, 
program. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
d-~· 
, 
~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·Pt" to H.P. 868, L.D. 1268 
1. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a service 
delivery model with different tracks that are based on the levels of education, work 
experience, family physical and mental health and other conditions that affect a person's 
ability to work. The family profile developed during the comprehensive screening and 
assessment program in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3788, subsection 3-A 
is used to determine which track a family should be on. Tracks are based on crisis 
resolution, employment, education and work incentive disregards. 
2. It changes eligibility for the Parents as Scholars Program so that families that do 
not qualify for TANF but earn no more than 150% of the federal poverty level qualify for 
the program. 
3. 
It allows educational institutions and programs in the State to refer eligible 
applicants to the Parents as Scholars Program. 
4. It establishes the Transitional Jobs Program in the Department of Health and 
Human Services for families unable to find employment through conventional means. 
Employers receive subsidies and must meet certain requirements to participate in the 
program. Performance data on the program must be collected by the department. 
5. It develops a voucher program through the Maine State Housing Authority for 
families with shelter expenses that exceed 50% of their monthly income. 
6. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to collect data related to 
performance measures of the T ANF program, including reducing child poverty and food 
insecurity and improving educational attainment, employment and income levels. It also 
requires the department to set benchmarks to measure improvement and success of the 
T ANF program. 
7. 
It establishes the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor the 
Department of Health and Human Services' progress with respect to meeting benchmarks 
for success of the T ANF program. 
8. It requires any administrative, technological or other costs associated with the 
changes to the T ANF program outlined in the amendment to be funded by using the 
federal block grant funding allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services 
within the State Family Assistance Grant of the TANF program. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/04/16 .;t.,,'ae 
LD 1268 
LR 1547(02) 
An Act To Reform Welfare by Establishing Bridges to Sustainable Employment 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ff ( tf-{tl52:l J 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Revenue 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
$0 
$28,952,909 
$0 
$28,952,909 
Projections 
FY2017-18 
$27,733,119 
$27,733,119 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
$27,775,901 
$27,775,901 
This bill includes a Federal Block Grant Fund allocation to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of 
$28,952,909 in fiscal year 2016-17 to establish a service delivery model with different pathways that are based on the 
levels of education, work experience, family physical and mental health and other conditions that affect a person's 
ability to work, to establish a Transitional Jobs Program for families unable to find employment through conventional 
means and collect performance data on the program and to change the eligibility for the Parents as Scholars program 
so that families that do not qualify for TANF but earn no more than 150% of the federal poverty level qualify. It also 
will require the DHHS to enhance some technologies to collect data related to the performance of the T ANF program, 
including reducing poverty rates and food insecurity, improving educational attainment, employment and income 
levels and to set benchmarks to measure improvement and success of the TANF program. Finally, it establishes an 
independent citizen oversight committee to monitor the DHHS's progress with respect to meeting benchmarks for 
success of the TANF program. 
This bill requires any administrative, technological or other costs associated with the changes to the TANF program 
outlined in this bill to be funded by utilizing the federal funding within the State Family Assistance Grant of the 
TANF program. 
The Maine State Housing Authority expects that the costs to administer the housing assistance program will be 
covered by the provisions included in this legislation and no General Fund appropriations will be required. 
LR1547(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1