An Act To Require National Banks To Cooperate in the Administration of the General Assistance Program
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0239
Committee Amendment CA_A_S24 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4314

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 85, L.D. 239, Bill, "An Act To Require 
National Banks To Cooperate in the Administration of the General Assistance Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4314, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 455, §§8 and 32 
and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §§6 and 7, is further amended to read: 
2. Financial institutions. 
,A£ treasurer An officer of any bank, federally or state-
chartered credit union, trust company, benefit association, insurance company, safe 
deposit company or any corporation or association receiving deposits of money, except 
national banks, shall, en upon receipt of a written release signed by a depositor and a 
written request in v.rriting signed by the overseer of any municipality or its agents, or by 
the Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's agents or by the 
Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the commissioner's 
agents, infemi: disclose to that overseer or the Department of Health and Human Services 
or the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services ef the amount deposited in the corporation or 
association to the credit of the persen named in the request depositor granting the release, 
who is a charge upon the municipality or the State, or who has applied for support to the 
municipality or the State. 
When the named depositor who is a charge upon the 
municipality is deceased and the municipality or its agents are acting in accordance with 
section 4313, subsection 2, the officer shall disclose the amount deposited in the 
corporation or association upon receipt of a written request from the municipality or its 
agents and a notarized affidavit signed by the overseer of the municipality or its agents 
stating that the named depositor is deceased.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. Like the bill, the amendment removes the 
exemption provided to national banks from the law requiring financial institutions to 
provide account balance information to the State or to a municipality for persons who 
have applied for or are receiving financial assistance from the State or the municipality. 
Page I - 128LR1091(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f\ "to S.P. 85, L.D. 239 
The amendment also requires that a signed release form from a depositor be obtained 
before deposit or balance information can be released by the financial institution and, if 
the depositor is deceased, a written request from the municipality and a notarized 
affidavit of death must be provided. The amendment does not grant any authority for the 
release of any funds by a financial institution. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/29/17 feac 
LD239 
LR 1091(02) 
An Act To Require National Banks To Cooperate in the Administration of the General Assistance 
Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'i\'' 
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services 
~ 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
( 5 - 2 tj) 
Fiscal Note 
Minor savings - General Fund· 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill removes the exemption provided to national banks from the law requiring financial institutions to provide 
account balance information to the State or to a municipality for persons who have applied for or are receiving 
financial assistance from the State or a municipality. The bill also requires a release form be obtained before 
information is released and that a notarized affidavit be used when the depositor is deceased. The savings to the 
Department of Health and Human Services are not expected to be significant because numerous financial institutions 
already had to comply with this rule. Also, recipients typically do not stay in the program, having to reapply each 
month they seek help. A more precise estimate of the fiscal impact is not possible because recipient data related to 
number of months on assistance, amounts paid to each recipient, number ofrecipients who return and the frequency of 
an account balance check denying a benefit resides at the municipal level and varies over time. 
LR1091(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1