An Act To Reduce Food Insecurity and Promote Economic Growth
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0752
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: FECTEAU, GATTINE, HICKMAN, JORGENSEN, MOONEN, LIBBY, VITELLI
Amends: 22 MRSA §3104, 22 MRSA §3108

Legislative Document
No. 752
H.P. 557
House of Representatives, February 11, 2019
An Act To Reduce Food Insecurity and Promote Economic Growth
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Biddeford.
Cosponsored by Representatives: GATTINE of Westbrook, HICKMAN of Winthrop, 
JORGENSEN of Portland, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, MOONEN of Portland, Senators: 
LIBBY of Androscoggin, VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3104, sub-§17 is enacted to read:
17.  Waiver of federal limits on assistance for individuals residing in areas with 
high unemployment or insufficient jobs.  Beginning with federal fiscal year 2020 and 
for each federal fiscal year thereafter, the department shall seek a waiver pursuant to 7 
United States Code, Section 2015(o)(4) to allow individuals otherwise subject to the 3-
month limit on food supplement program benefits pursuant to 7 United States Code, 
Section 2015(o)(2) to continue to receive food supplement program benefits if those 
individuals reside in counties, labor market areas or other areas that qualify for a waiver 
because of high unemployment or a lack of a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for those individuals. The department shall adopt routine technical rules 
pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this subsection.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3108, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Reliable data.  In calculating the amount of the food stamp standard utility 
allowance, the department shall rely on reliable data reflecting actual utility costs in the 
State.
Sec. 3.  Department of Health and Human Services to seek waiver.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a request to the United States 
Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements for an asset test for determining the 
eligibility of any household under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program 
administered by the State pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3104 
when the household includes an individual who is 60 years of age or older or an 
individual with a disability or when the household does not include children.
SUMMARY
This bill accomplishes the following.
1.  It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to seek a waiver 
beginning with federal fiscal year 2020, which begins October 1, 2019, and for each 
federal fiscal year thereafter to allow individuals otherwise subject to a 3-month limit on 
federal food supplement program benefits to continue to receive benefits if those 
individuals reside in counties, labor market areas or other areas that qualify for a waiver 
because of high unemployment or a lack of a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for those individuals.
2.  It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to calculate the amount 
of the food stamp standard utility allowance using reliable data reflecting actual utility 
costs in Maine.
3.  It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to request the United 
States Department of Agriculture to waive the asset test for determining the eligibility for 
the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program of any household in which there is 
an individual who is 60 years of age or older or an individual with a disability or that does 
not include children.