An Act to Establish Welfare Work Requirements for Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0784
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BRAKEY, JAVNER, HARRINGTON, LIBBY, MOORE, STEWART, TIMBERLAKE, DRINKWATER, FREDERICKS, MASON
Amends: 22 MRSA §3104, 22 MRSA §3174, 22 MRSA §4316-A

Legislative Document
No. 784
S.P. 343
In Senate, February 21, 2023
An Act to Establish Welfare Work Requirements for Able-bodied 
Adults Without Dependents
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative JAVNER of Chester and
Senators: HARRINGTON of York, LIBBY of Cumberland, MOORE of Washington, 
STEWART of Aroostook, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representatives: 
DRINKWATER of Milford, FREDERICKS of Sanford, MASON of Lisbon.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3104, sub-§18 is enacted to read:
18.  Work requirement for certain able-bodied adults without dependents.  The 
department shall implement a work requirement and time-limited assistance provisions for 
able-bodied adults who are 18 years of age or older and under 50 years of age with no 
dependents consistent with Section 6(o) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in 
effect on March 15, 2022. Food assistance for an able-bodied adult who is 18 years of age 
or older and under 50 years of age with no dependents in the household is limited to 3 
months in a 36-month period if the adult does not meet the requirements of Section 6(o) of 
the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in effect on March 15, 2022.  The department 
shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection 
are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3174, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 790, §2, is amended to 
read:
2.  Residence.  Is living in the State at the date of the application; and
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §3174, sub-§3, as corrected by RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §160, is 
amended to read:
3.  Inmate.  Is not an inmate of any public institution, except as a patient in a medical 
institution or an inmate during the month in which the applicant becomes an inmate only 
to the extent permitted by federal law, but an inmate of such an institution may file 
application for aid and any allowance made thereon must take effect and be paid when the 
applicant ceases to be an inmate of the institution.; and
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §3174, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Work requirement for certain able-bodied adults without dependents.  
Complies with a work requirement and time-limited assistance provisions for able-bodied 
adults who are 18 years of age or older and under 50 years of age with no dependents 
consistent with Section 6(o) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in effect on 
March 15, 2022. Benefits under this chapter for an able-bodied adult who is 18 years of 
age or older and under 50 years of age with no dependents in the household is limited to 3 
months in a 36-month period if the adult does not meet requirements of Section 6(o) of the 
federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in effect on March 15, 2022.  The department shall 
adopt rules to implement this subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 5.  22 MRSA §4316-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Work requirement for certain able-bodied adults without dependents.  A 
municipality shall implement a work requirement and time-limited assistance provisions 
for able-bodied adults who are 18 years of age or older and under 50 years of age with no 
dependents consistent with Section 6(o) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in 
effect on March 15, 2022. Benefits under a general assistance program for an able-bodied 
adult who is 18 years of age or older and under 50 years of age with no dependents in the 
household is limited to 3 months in a 36-month period if the adult does not meet 
requirements of Section 6(o) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 in effect on 
March 15, 2022.  The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires able-bodied adults without dependents enrolled in the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program, the MaineCare program or a municipal general assistance 
program for longer than 3 months to participate in certain work requirements, including:
1.  Working an average of 20 or more hours per week;
2.  Participating in an employment or training program or a job search for an average 
of 20 hours or more per week; or
3.  Participating in a placement with public or private sector employers, including as a 
volunteer.