An Act To Restore Services To Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1317
Committee Amendment CA_A-HA_A_H615 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT ,A,, to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 952, 
L.D. 1317, Bill, "An Act To Restore Services To Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their 
Basic Needs" 
Amend the amendment by striking out all of the first paragraph after the title (page 1, 
line 11 in amendment) 
Amend the amendment by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following: 
'Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Implement 
Administrative Changes To Ensure, Within Existing Law and Resources~ Access to 
Assistance by Certain Noncitizens' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
Sec. 1. Access to assistance by certain noncitizens. Resolved: 
That, in 
accordance with existing law and within available resources, the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall take steps to ensure the ability to meet basic needs, including 
housing and food, for any person who is: 
1. Lawfully present in the United States with the knowledge and permission of the 
United States Department of Homeland Security and whose depa1ture is not required by 
the United States Department of Homeland Security, including a person described in 45 
Code of Federal Regulations, Section 152.2, Subsections (1) to (7) or a person with 
deferred action under the United States Department of Homeland Security's deferred 
action for childhood arrivals process; or 
2. 
Pursuing a lawful process to apply for immigration relief under the federal 
Immigration and Nationality Act, as long as the person has submitted to the federal 
government an application for immigration relief or can provide verification that the 
person is taking reasonable steps to pursue the application process. 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall implement administrative rule 
changes, consistent with current law and to be funded within existing resources as soon as 
those resources are available or anticipated but no later than November 1, 2019, to ensure 
that persons described in subsections 1 and 2 who are otherwise eligible are able to access 
general assistance to the extent allowable pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
~-.. ~. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT A 
"to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A': t~ H.P. 952, L.D. 1317 
22, section 4301, subsection 3; food supplement program benefits in accordance with 
Title 22, section 3104; and temporary assistance for needy families in accordance with 
Title 22, section 3762, subsection 3. 
The depattment shall adopt emergency rules under Title 5, section 8054 to implement 
this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defmed 
by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2. 
Study of cost, consequences for noncitizens without health 
insurance; stakeholder involvement; report. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services shall study relevant federal, state and municipal data to 
determine the costs, including the costs of providing uncompensated care, and the short-
tenn and long-term health consequences of noncitizens' not having health insurance. In 
conducting its review, the department shall consult with health care providers, hospitals, 
municipalities, social service organizations, organizations with expe1tise in workforce 
development and organizations representing noncitizens. 
No later than February 1, 2020, the department shall submit its report and any 
recommendations developed pursuant to this section, including any suggested legislation, 
to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. After receipt and review 
of the report, the committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
129th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the appropriations and allocations section in Committee 
Amendment 
11A
and instead replaces the bill with a resolve directing the Department of 
Health and Human Services to implement administrative changes in compliance with 
state law to ensure that, within existing resources, certain noncitizens are able to access 
certain assistance. This amendment also directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services to study the cost and health consequences of noncitizens' not having health 
insurance and make recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services no later/f8an February 1, 2020. 
SPONSORED BY: __________ ___,...-----__,,----~ 
TOWN: Westbrook 
FISCAL :'i'OTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
.. ,, 
._,.~, 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/10/19 .?'dae! 
LD 1317 
LR 1666(04) 
An Act To Restore Se1·vices To Help Certain Noncitizens Meet Their Basic Needs 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment~' to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Rep. Gattine of Westbrook 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Removes appropriations - General Fund 
Eliminates ce1tain requirements, limits eligibility - Reduces costs 
FY 2019-20 
FY 2020-21 
Projections 
FY2021-22 
Projections 
FY 2022-23 
~et Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
($7,327,767) 
($7,125,033) 
($7,125,033) 
($7,125,033) 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
($7,327,767) 
($7,125,033) 
($7,125,033) 
($7,125,033) 
This amendment eliminates the General Fund appropriations that were in the bill. It also eliminates the bill's 
expansion of eligiblity for certain programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The 
DHHS is directed to implement administrative changes in compliance with cunent state law to ensure that, within 
existing resources, certain noncitizens are able to access certain assistance. Without additional funding, the impact of 
these new provisions on other programs and services in the DHHS cannot be dete1mined at this time. 
This amendment also requires the DHHS to study the cost and health consequences for non-citizens without health 
insurance. Any additional costs to the DHHS to conduct this study and report to the legislature are expected to be 
minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1666(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1