An Act To Restrict Cash Access for Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0268
Committee Amendment CA_A_H479 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §23

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 201, L.D. 268, Bill, "An Act To 
Restrict Cash Access for Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Ensure the Integrity of Maine's Welfare Benefits Programs' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and insetting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §23, sub-§1-A is enacted to read: 
1-A. Enforcement. Beginning Janua1y I, 2018, a recipient of benefits from the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program shall retain a receipt for eveiy 
transaction the recipient makes using such benefits under the electronic benefits transfer 
system. The depmiment may annually audit up to 6 months of transactions under the 
electronic benefits transfer system for no more than 2% of the recipients of Tempormy 
Assistance for Needy Families. If the department determines that a transaction of a 
recipient was improper under state or federal law, the depmiment shall deduct the amount 
of the transaction from the recipient's benefits under the electronic benefits transfer 
system for the month subsequent to the determination of an improper transaction. 
Sec. 2. 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 allocations for 2 Eligiblity Specialist positions to perform the audits 
of recipients of the Tempora1y Assistance for Needy Families program. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f1" to H.P. 201, L.D. 268 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2017-18 
2018-19 
2.000 
2.000 
$65,233 
$134,276 
$8,703 
$17,535 
$73,936 
$151,811 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee and replaces the bill. It 
requires, beginning January 1, 2018, a recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families, or TANF, benefits to retain a receipt for every transaction the recipient makes 
using T ANF benefits under the electronic benefits transfer system. It authorizes the 
Depattment of Health and Human Services to audit up to 2% of TANF recipients for 
transactions occurring over periods of up to 6 months. If the depmtment determines that 
a transaction of a recipient was improper under state or federal law, the department is 
authorized to deduct the amount of the transaction from a recipient's benefits for the 
following month. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/02/17 feae.. 
LD268 
LR 811(02) 
An Act To Restrict Cash Access for Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •fl• ( H / 1f7 (~ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium savings - Federal Block Grant Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Revenue 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
FY 2017-18 
FY 2018-19 
$73,936 
$151,811 
$73,936 
$151,811 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
$156,792 
$156,793 
Projections 
FY 2020-21 
$160,732 
$160,732 
The bill includes Federal Block Grant Fund allocations to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of 
$73,936 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $151,811 in fiscal year 2018-19 for 2 Eligiblity Specialist positions to perform the 
audits of recipients of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. 
The TANF program may realize savings from amounts deducted from recipients' benefits. DHHS may not be able to 
deduct the full amount of an improper transaction the following month from a recipient's benefits due to current 
TANF recoupment rules that allow DHHS to only deduct 10% of the maximum TANF benefit or 30% if the recipient 
is receiving less than the maximum. DHHS would need to develop a process that adheres to a client's right for due 
process. 
LR0811 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1