An Act To Promote Workforce Participation
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0481
Committee Amendment CA_B_H327 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,13,, to H.P. 344, L.D. 481, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote Workforce Participation" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble (page 1, lines 1 to 19 in 
L.D.). 
Amend the bill in section 1 in paragraph B by striking out all of subparagraph (7) 
(page 2, lines 36 to 43 and page 3, lines 1 to 8 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
1(7) In determining benefit levels for TANF 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 $17 5 per month per child or $200 per 
month per child under 2 years of age or with special needst, 
This subparagraph is repealed July 1, 2019.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in paragraph B by inserting after subparagraph (7-A) the 
following: 
1(7-B) Beginning July 1, 2019, in determining benefit levels for TANF recipients 
who have earnings from employment, the department shall disregard from 
monthly earnings the following: 
(a) 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: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT .:B" to H.P. 344, L.D. 481 
(b) For a recipient employed 40 or more hours per week and who meets 
work participation requirements as defined in federal TANF rules, 100% of 
the gross earned income for the first full month of employment and the next 
consecutive month of employment, 75% of the gross earned income for the 
next 6 consecutive months of employment and 50% of the gross earned 
income for each additional consecutive month of employment thereafter; and 
(c) For a recipient employed less than 40 hours per week and who meets 
work participation requirements as defined in federal TANF rules, 100% of 
the gross earned income for the first full month of employment, 75% of the 
gross earned income for the next 6 consecutive months of employment and 
50% of the gross earned income for each additional consecutive month of 
employment thereafter. 
The department may disregard 100% of earnings for a recipient under this 
subparagraph only one time in a 12-month period;' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency clause. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
and Human Services. 
The amendment specifies that beginning July 1, 2019, in 
determining benefit levels for T ANF recipients who have earnings from employment, the 
Depaitment of Health and Human Services must disregard from monthly earnings the 
following: for a recipient employed 40 or more hours per week and who meets work 
patticipation requirements as defined in federal TANF rules, 100% of the gross earned 
income for the first full month of employment and the next consecutive month of 
employment, 75% of the gross earned income for the next 6 consecutive months of 
employment and 50% of the gross earned income for each additional consecutive month 
of employment thereafter and for a recipient employed less than 40 hours per week and 
who meets work participation requirements as defined in federal T ANF rules, 100% of 
the gross earned income for the first full month of employment, 75% of the gross earned 
income for the next 6 consecutive months of employment and 50% of the gross earned 
income for each additional consecutive month of employment thereafter. 
The amendment strikes from the bill the department's prohibition on considering the 
following in determining benefit levels for TANF recipients: $108 and 50% of the 
remaining earnings that are less than the federal poverty level. 
The amendment also specifies that the department may disregard 100% of earnings 
for a recipient only one time in a 12-month period. 
The amendment restores the provision in current law removed by the bill directing 
the department to disregard from monthly earnings 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. 
The amendment also removes the emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
F'ISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attMbed) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 05/20/17 feac 
LD481 
LR 1134(03) 
An Act To Promote Workforce Participation 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '15 CH~ 3;).~ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Future biem1ium cost increase - Federal Block Grant Fund 
This bill increases the amount of income earned by recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program that is disregarded in determining the amount of benefits they receive, beginning on July 1, 2019. 
The amount of the disregard is lowered over time as recipients make the transition to stable employment. Sufficient 
data is not cmrently available to detennine what the additional cost would be, but any cost would accrue to the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Federal Block Grant Fund and would have no impact on the General Fund 
spending. 
LRl 134(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1