An Act To Strengthen Penalties for Abuse of General Assistance
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0722
Committee Amendment CA_A_S204 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4315

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 252, L.D. 722, Bill, "An Act To 
Strengthen Penalties for Abuse of General Assistance" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: ' 
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'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4315, first -,r, as amended by PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. AAA, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
Whoever knowingly and willfully makes any false representation of a material fact to 
the overseer of any municipality or to the department or its agents for the purpose of 
causing that or any other person to be granted assistance by the municipality or by the 
State is guilty of a Class E crime and shall reimburse the municipality for that assistance. 
Further assistance may be denied until that person reimburses the municipality for the 
assistance or enters into a written agreement, which must be reasonable under the 
circumstances, to reimburse the municipality or that person has been ineligible for 
assistance for a period of 120 days and is guilty of a Class E erime, whichever period is 
longer. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4315, 3rd -,r,. as amended by PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. AAA, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
If the overseer of any municipality or the fair hearing officer finds that a recipient 
made a false representation to the overseer in violation of this section, that recipient is 
required to reimburse the municipality for any assistance rendered for which that 
recipient was ineligible aad. The recipient is ineligible from receiving further assistance 
for a period of 120 days or until that person reimburses the municipality for the assistance 
or enters into a written agreement. which must be reasonable under the circumstances, to 
reimburse that municipality, whichever period is longer.' 
SU~Y 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment provides that a person who makes 
a false representation of a material fact to obtain municipal general assistance is ineligible 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
v..0~S 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 252, L.D. 722 
to receive further assistance either for a period of 120 days or until reimbursement is 
made or that person enters into a written agreement, which must be reasonable, to 
reimburse the municipality, whichever period is longer. The amendment also provides 
that the overseer of municipal general assistance may make a determination that a person 
has made a false representation of a material fact to obtain general assistance. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 06102/15 
;WaC!. 
LD722 
LR 1530(02) 
An Act To Strengthen Penalties for Abuse of General Assistance 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''A''{S-2D4 ') 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Current biennium revenue increase - General Fund 
Requiring reimbursement of general assistance payments that were based on fraudulent applications may generate 
new revenue to the Department of Health and Human Services. The department may incur expenditures related to 
additional audit and administrative functions. These costs may be offset by reduced payments to individuals who do 
not immediately reimburse the program. 
LRI530(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1