An Act Regarding the So-called Leveraging Investments so Families Can Thrive Report Produced by the Department of Health and Human Services
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1742
Committee Amendment CA_A_S533 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3109, 22 MRSA §3762, 22 MRSA §3788, 22 MRSA §3790, 22 MRSA §3790-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748, "An Act Regarding the 
So-called Leveraging Investments so Families Can Thrive Report Produced by the 
Department of Health and Human Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Improve the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and To 
Improve the So-called Leveraging Investments so Families Can Thrive Report' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3109, sub-§1, 1A-1 is enacted to read: 
A-1. "ASPIRE-TANF" means the Additional Support for People in Retraining and 
Employment - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program established in 
section 3781-A. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3109, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. 00, §§17 to 
19, is further amended to read: 
2. Identify pieasures of child and family economic security. Beginning October 15, 
2019 and annually January 15, 2023 and biennially thereafter, the department shall obtain 
and compile the following data for the State regarding child and family economic security 
from those sources reasonably available to the department, including, but not limited to, 
data collected and maintained by the department, data available from the Department of 
Labor and the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Revenue 
Services or other state or federal agencies and such other data as can reasonably be obtained 
from other public or private sources upon request. The data must include: 
A. The ratio of families with children receiving TANF cash assistance to the number 
of families with children and income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level in 
the current year and in the previous 4 years; 
B. The percentage of children under 5 years of age receiving TANF cash assistance 
5 
that also receive assistance from WIC in the current year and in the previous 4 years; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 604, L.D.1748 ('S·S3~ 
C. The percentage of children under 5 years of age receiving SNAP benefits that also 
receive assistance from WIC in the current year and in the previous 4 years; 
D. For all families for whom TANF cash assistance has terminated: 
(1) The number and percentage of families with no quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
(2) 
The number and percentage of families with quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment that are below 50% of the federal poverty level: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program.was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
(3) 
The number and percentage of families with quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment that are at least 50% but below 100% of the federal 
poverty level: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
(4) 
The number and percentage of families with quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment that are at least 100% but below 150% of the federal 
poverty level: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
(5) 
The number and percentage of families with quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment that are at least 150% but below 200% of the federal 
poverty level: 
(a) At the time.participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
( 6) 
The number and percentage of families with quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment that are at least 200% of the federal poverty level: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEEAMENDMENT"{A "toS.P.604,L.D.1748 (s-S3~ 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
(7) The mean and median income of families with no quarterly earnings from 
unsubsidized employment: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
(8) The number and percentage of families receiving income from the federal 
supplemental security income program or federal social security disability benefits: 
(a) At the time participation in the program was terminated; 
(b) During the 2nd quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
and 
( c) During the 4th quarter after participation in the program was terminated; 
E. Cumulative data on the highest level of educational attainment of adult parents or 
caretaker relatives receiving T ANF cash assistance and cumulative data on the highest 
level of educational attainment of adult parents or caretaker relatives whose 
participation in the program was terminated in the prior year; 
F. The ratio of persons receiving SNAP benefits to the total number of potentially 
eligible persons; the ratio of persons 60 years of age or older receiving SNAP benefits 
to the total number of potentially eligible persons 60 years of age or older; the ratio of 
nonelderly persons with a disability receiving SNAP benefits to the total number of 
potentially eligible nonelderly persons with a disability; and the ratio of children under 
years of age receiving SNAP benefits to the total number of potentially eligible 
children under 18 years of age; 
G. The number and percentage of adult parents or caretaker relatives who have 
children in the household and who are receiving SNAP benefits, grouped by highest 
level of educational attainment of the adult parent or caretaker relative; 
H. The ratio of people participating in the MaineCare program, by eligibility group, to 
the total number of potentially eligible persons within each group; 
I. The number and percentage of applications received by the department for the 
5 
MaineCare program and the children's health insurance program as defined in section 
3174-X, subsection 1, paragraph A, by eligibility group, that are processed in less than 
hours; that are processed within one to 7 days; that are processed within 8 to 30 
8 
days; that are processed within 31 to 45 days; and that are processed more than 45 days 
9 
after receipt; 
J. The average waiting times, by month, for a person calling the department's call 
center to speak to a person, not including an interactive voice response system; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f} "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 ( 2) • S~ ~ 
K. The number and percentage, by month, of telephone calls to the department's call 
center that are terminated by a caller prior to the caller's speaking to a person, not 
including an interactive voice response system. 
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §3109, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. Survey experiences ofTANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants. Beginning in 
calendar year 2024 and biennially thereafter, the department shall conduct a survey of 
TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants and compile the answers to include in its biennial 
report for the following year pursuant to subsection 3. The department shall select a 
representative sample of current TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants and a 
representative sample of TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants whose participation in 
TANF was terminated in the previous year and whose contact information remains 
available to the department's office for family independence. The department shall survey 
the selected samples of participants using an anonymized survey. The department shall 
provide the opportunity to respond orally to the survey for participants who request 
interpreter services or another reasonable accommodation. 
Information about the 
participants is confidential. The department may use funds from the federal Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families block grant to contract for this work. The survey topics 
must include, but are not limited to: 
A. Administrative burdens faced by ASPIRE-T ANF participants; 
B. Availability of interpretation and translation services; 
C. Experiences of discrimination based on racial or ethnic identity, sex, gender 
identity, sexual orientation, ability or disability status, religion, national origin or 
marital status; 
D. 
Availability of education and training programs, including postsecondary 
programs, and staff knowledge of and referrals to appropriate programs and services; 
E. Availability of adequate support services, including but not limited to child care 
and transportation, and recommendations for other support services needed but not 
available; 
F. Overall experiences and recommendations for improvement of ASPIRE-T ANF; and 
G. Optional demographic questions, including but not limited to geographic location, 
racial or ethnic identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, national 
origin, marital status and need for interpretation and translation services. 
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3109, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 485, §1, is repealed 
and the following enacted in its place: 
3. Measuring the effect of department initiatives to improve child and family 
economic security; reports. The department shall submit biennial reports, in accordance 
with this subsection, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters that analyze TANF's and ASPIRE-TANF's impact 
on family economic security, including increased ability to meet basic needs, improved 
education levels and increased income. 
A. No later than January 15, 2023, the department shall present the data collected 
pursuant to subsection 2 along with an assessment of how these measures can be 
improved. The department shall also identify any obstacles to improving economic 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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CO.M:MITTEE AMENDMENT" /f' to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 (S-S'7::;;2J) 
security for children, families and individuals, which must include an analysis of how 
methods for determining TANF eligibility may be changed to increase the number of 
children under poverty eligible to receive assistance, and make recommendations for 
addressing those obstacles, which may include improved coordination between state 
agencies. The department shall convene a representative group of current and former 
TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants who volunteer to review the data collected 
pursuant to subsection 2. This group must have the opportunity to create a separate 
report making recommendations to improve economic security for children, families 
and individuals, which may also be presented by the group to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters. 
This paragraph is repealed January 30, 2023. 
B. Beginning January 15, 2025, and biennially thereafter, the department shall present 
the data collected pursuant to subsection 2 and the survey responses compiled pursuant 
to subsection 2-A along with an assessment of how these data measures can be 
improved. The department shall also identify any obstacles to improving economic 
security for children, families and individuals and make recommendations for 
addressing those obstacles, which may include improved coordination between state 
agencies. The department shall convene a representative group of current and former 
TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants who volunteer to review the data collected 
pursuant to subsection 2 and the anonymized survey data collected pursuant to 
subsection 2-A. This group must have the opportunity to create a separate report 
making recommendations to improve economic security for children, families and 
individuals, which may also be presented by the group to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters. 
For all reports required pursuant to this subsection, the joint standing committee's review 
must include the opportunity for public comment, and the joint standing committee may 
introduce any legislation that is considered necessary to address barriers faced by the 
department in improving economic security for children, families and individuals in this 
State. 
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§1, 1A-1 is enacted to read: 
A-1. 
"Culturally and linguistically appropriate services" means services that are 
designed to serve culturally diverse populations in their preferred languages; function 
effectively within the context of cultural beliefs, behaviors and needs presented by 
TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants and their communities; contribute to a work 
environment that supports diversity; promote community engagement; build trust and 
relationships with TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants; actively support and enable 
TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants to make informed choices; and value and 
facilitate the exchange of information with TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants. 
Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§1, 1G is enacted to read: 
G. "Trauma-informed services" means services that acknowledge and are informed by 
the widespread impact of trauma and recognize the potential paths for recovery; 
recognize the unique signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families and staff; 
respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures and 
practices; and seek to actively avoid retraumatization. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 l 3-S 3 3J 
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §3762; sub-§21 is enacted to read: 
21. 
Duty to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate and trauma-
informed services. The department shall work with all TANF and ASPIRE-TANF 
participants to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services and trauma-
informed services to assist each family in obtaining the services and skills necessary to 
sustain economic stability and opportunity after leaving T ANF. Each T ANF and ASPIRE-
TANF participant must be screened to identify any need for culturally or linguistically 
appropriate or trauma-informed services. If such a need is identified, the department shall 
use appropriate methods and techniques to work with the participant to develop goals that 
reflect, to the greatest extent possible, the preferences of the participant and individualized 
plans that address the participant's situation and barriers to sustained economic stability. 
The department shall work with TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants to connect them 
with appropriate programs and services available to help the families attain and sustain 
economic stability and to ensure the well-being of the children. 
Sec. 8. 22 MRSA §3788, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §26, is 
amended to read: 
1-A. Information about and application for Parents as Scholars Program. When 
there are fewer than 2,000 enrollees in the Parents as Scholars Program under chapter 
1054-B, the department shall inform all persons applying for ASPIRE-TANF and all 
ASPIRE-TANF participants reviewing or requesting to amend their education, training or 
employment program under ASPIRE-TANF of the program Parents as Scholars Program 
and shall offer them the opportunity to apply for the program. The department shall assist 
persons who apply for ASPIRE-TANF and participants seeking to matriculate for 
postsecondary education, including through appropriate referrals for remedial services or 
financial aid assistance, and shall assist persons with the provision of ASPIRE-TANF 
services for which they are eligible. 
Sec. 9. 22 MRSA §3788, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 291, §9, is further 
amended to read: 
6. Education, training and employment services. The ASPIRE-TANF program 
must make available a broad range of education, training and employment services in 
accordance with section 3781-A, subsection 3 and the federal Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105 and 
3 
the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171, 120 Stat. 4. These services 
and activities must include all of those services and activities offered by the Additional 
Support for People in Retraining and Employment Program on October 1, 1989, except in 
2-year and 4-yearpostsecondary education and except as provided in chapter 1054-B. This 
7 
section does not prohibit the department from purchasing equivalent services from 
providers other than those from whom those services were purchased on October 1, 1989. 
9 
When a particular approved education or training service is available at comparable quality 
and cost, including the cost of support services, and the implementation of the family 
contract would not be unreasonably delayed, the program participant may choose to enroll 
for that service with the provider of that person's preference. If this decision is not mutually 
agreed to by the participant and the case manager, the decision must be reviewed by the 
case manager's supervisor. These services de-net must include reimbursement for the cost 
of tuition er~ mandatory fees and the cost of transcripts or transferring credits for 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" {4 "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 ( S-5:j:>) 
postsecondary education unless: when the participant has exhausted any available 
educational funding to complete the participant's family contract, in accordance with 
department rules. 
A. The participant is unable to secUFe other educational funding needed to coffif)lete 
the participant's family contract due to: 
(1) Poor credit as determined by the educational funding source; or 
(2) Tue consideration by the educational funding source of resources from past 
years that are not actually available to the participant; 
B. fu the determination of the department, failUFe to pay the tuition or fee would result 
in higher l1.SPIRE TANF program costs to achieve the participant's approved goal; or 
C. The participant meets an e~!'ception specified in rules adopted by the department. 
When a substantially similar postsecondary education or training program of comparable 
quality is available at both a public and private institution, within a reasonable commuting 
distance for the participant, the department may choose to approve the program offered at 
the public institution if the participant's program can be completed at less cost at the 
institution. 
Sec. 10. 22 MRSA §3788, sub-§6-A is enacted to read: 
6-A. Parents as Scholars Program prematriculation services. The department shall 
assist ASPIRE-TANF participants interested in applying for the Parents as Scholars 
Program under chapter 1054-B to prepare to matriculate, including enrolling participants 
or preparing participants for enrollment in a program providing remedial services necessary 
for matriculation; identifying the strengths, needs and barriers faced by participants; and 
making referrals to programs qualified to assist participants with the services, supports, 
education, training and accommodations needed to reduce or overcome barriers to 
enrollment in the Parents as Scholars Program. The department shall cover the cost of 
support services in accordance with this section needed for any activity under this 
subsection included in the family contract. Any hours spent preparing for matriculation 
under this subsection, including, but not limited to, exploring educational opportunities and 
financial aid options and applying for educational programs or financial aid, must be 
considered hours of participation in ASPIRE-T ANF for the purposes of participation under 
chapter 1053-B. These hours may also be counted for federal participation as allowable by 
federal law. 
Sec. 11. 22 MRSA §3790, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. K, §14, is 
further amended to read: 
1. Established. The department shall establish a student financial aid program based 
on need for up to 2000 participants known as the Parents as Scholars Program, referred to 
in this section as the "program," to aid needy students who have dependent children and 
who are matriculating in postsecondary undergraduate 2-year and 4-year degree-granting 
education programs. Enrollees in the program must be provided with a package of student 
aid that includes aid for living expenses equivalent to that provided pursuant to chapter 
1053-B, medical assistance pursuant to chapter 855 and services and benefits at least 
equivalent to those provided pursuant to chapter 1054-A and to participants in the Higher 
Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program pursuant to chapter 1054-C. A family 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/4- "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 ( S- S 32:i\, 
that ceases to receive aid under this chapter as a result of increased child support or 
increased hours of, or increased income from, employment is eligible to receive transitional 
support services in accordance with section 3762, subsection 8. The program must be 
supported with funds other than federal block grant funds provided under the United States 
Social Security Act, Title IV-A, except that federal funds may be used in accordance with 
federal law if their use does not result in the imposition of conditions of participation or 
program requirements other than those established by this chapter. 
Sec. 12. 22 MRSA §3790, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1999, c. 407, 
§ 1, is amended by enacting a new 2nd blocked paragraph to read: 
For the purposes of this subsection, study hours are counted as 3 times the number of hours 
of classroom instruction, which may include virtual instruction. These study hours are not 
required to be scheduled or supervised. A participant is deemed to meet the participation 
requirements of this subsection if the participant, in order to improve the participant's 
academic performance or to improve the participant's attendance or to more appropriately 
meet the needs of the participant's family, has chosen to matriculate less than full-time but 
at least half-time, as defined by acceptance to and official registration of at least a half-time 
study by the training or educational institution. 
Sec. 13. 22 MRSA §3790-A, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. 
Coordination with state educational institutions and programs. 
The 
department shall consider a referral from an educational institution or program that is part 
of the University of Maine System; the Maine Community College System; Jobs for 
Maine's Graduates, established in Title 20-A, chapter 226; an adult education program 
established pursuant to Title 20-A, chapter 315; or the career centers established by the 
Department of Labor as an application for the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to 
Employment Program as long as, in accordance with department rules, the referral is 
submitted by a qualified person at the institution or program on a form provided by the 
department for this purpose and signed by the prospective student expressing a desire to 
enroll in the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program. The department 
shall notify these institutions and programs of the opportunity to refer prospective students 
in accordance with this subsection and make available to prospective students and these 
institutions and programs referral forms to serve as applications for purposes of this 
subsection. 
Sec. 14. 
Improve application processes for postsecondary education 
programs. In order to improve access to postsecondary certificate and degree programs 
through the ASPIRE-TANF program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 
1054-A; the Parents as Scholars Program under chapter 1054-B; the Higher Opportunity 
for Pathways to Employment Program under chapter 1054-C; the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Program under Title 26, chapter 25, subchapter 5; and other programs 
providing similar opportunities, the Department of Health and Human Services, the 
Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the University of Maine System and 
the Maine Community College System shall work together to explore the feasibility of 
creating a single application for persons expressing a desire to enroll in postsecondary 
education and training programs to be available from the departments and at relevant 
educational institutions and programs, including, but not limited to, the University of Maine 
System, the Maine Community College System, adult education programs established 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" (t "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 l S • 53 ~ 
pursuant to Title 20-A, chapter 315 and the career centers established by the Department 
of Labor. The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, 
the Department of Labor, the University of Maine System and the Maine Community 
College System shall identify opportunities for an individual to initiate an application, with 
the departments coordinating and facilitating the application for the correct program based 
on the applicant's interests and program eligibility requirements. 
By February 1, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department 
of Education, the Department of Labor, the University of Maine System, the Maine 
Community College System and adult education programs established pursuant to Title 
20-A, chapter 315 shall provide a written status update for the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters regarding the 
feasibility of facilitating applications for postsecondary education programs. This written 
status update must include any needs, financial, technological or otherwise, identified to 
achieve this type of enhanced coordination and strategies to meet those needs. The joint 
standing committee may introduce any legislation that it considers necessary in response 
to this status update to the Second Regular Session of the 131 st Legislature. 
Sec. 15. Rulemaking. No later than October 1, 2023, the Department of Health and 
Human Services shall adopt rules to implement this Act. Rules adopted pursuant to this 
section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. For the purposes of Title 22, section 3762, subsection 1, paragraph 
A-1, section 3762, subsection 1, paragraph G and section 3762, subsection 21, in advance 
of rulemaking, the department shall consult with current and former participants in the 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, chapter 1053-B and 
consider their recommendations. 
Sec. 16. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment 0146 
Initiative: Provides allocation for required program changes to child care hours and 
allowable tuition. 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
All Other 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
Office for Family Independence Z020 
2021-22 
$0 
$0 
2022-23 
$2,023,570 
$2,023,570 
Initiative: Provides appropriations and allocations to establish one Management Analyst II 
position to handle new on-going reporting requirements. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
2021-22 
0.000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2022-23 
1.000 
$92,085 
$9,966 
$102,051 
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COM1vfITIEE AMENDMENT" A-" to S.P. 604, L.D. 1748 ( '.:) •• S 6:>~ 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
2021-22 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2022-23 
$102,051 
$2,023,570 
$2,125,621 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. It does the following. 
1. It requires the addition of qualitative survey data from participants in the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF, and the Additional Support for People 
in Retraining and Employment - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or 
ASPIRE-TANF, in the report that is submitted to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3109. It changes the report from an annual report 
to a biennial report beginning January 15, 2023. 
2. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide culturally and 
linguistically appropriate and trauma-informed services to TANF and ASPIRE-TANF 
recipients. It requires the rule-making process to implement these services to include 
consultation with current and former TANF and ASPIRE-TANF participants. 
3. 
It requires the department to assist ASPIRE-TANF participants seeking to 
matriculate in postsecondary education through the Parents as Scholars Program with 
access to remedial services, financial assistance and the provision of ASPIRE-TANF 
services. Services must include reimbursement for tuition, fees and transcript costs. Hours 
spent preparing for matriculation are considered hours of participation in ASPIRE-T ANF. 
4. 
It creates parity between the Parents as Scholars Program and the Higher 
Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program by making services and benefits 
equivalent between the programs and by requiring, for both programs, that study hours be 
counted for 3 hours for every one hour of classroom instruction and options for half-time 
study be made available. It also modifies program requirements regarding how study hours 
and half-time enrollment are counted. 
5. 
It provides that a referral from the University of Maine System, the Maine 
Community College System, Jobs for Maine's Graduates, adult education programs and 
Department of Labor career centers must be considered an application for the Higher 
Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program as long as the referral is submitted by 
a qualified person and on a form provided for this purpose and signed by the student. 
6. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, 
the Department of Education, the University of Maine System and the Maine Community 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEEAMENDMENT"ffr "to S.P. 604,L.D.1748 ('2>-'S3-~'\ 
College System to explore the feasibility of simplifying the application process for 
education programs, including ASPIRE-TANF, the Parents as Scholars Program, the 
Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program and the Competitive Skills 
Scholarship Program, to a single application. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/07 /22 feae 
LD 1748 
LR2279(02) 
An Act Regarding the So-called Leveraging Investments so Families Can Thrive Report Produced by 
the Department of Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ')4 "( S-S-35) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Revenue 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2021-22 
$0 
$0 
$0 
FY 2022-23 
$102,051 
$2,023,570 
$2,023,570 
Projections 
FY 2023-24 
$105,161 
$2,191,720 
$2,191,720 
Projections 
FY 2024-25 
$108,442 
$2,191,r 
$2,191,720 
The bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds allocations to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$102,051 in fiscal year 2022-23 to establish one Management Analyst II position to handle new on-going reporting 
requirements. These allocations are funded with federal grants. Additionally, there are Federal Block Grant Fund 
allocations for required program changes to child care hours and allowable tuition. 
LR2279(02) - Fiscal Note - Page l of l