An Act to Increase
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0978
Committee Amendment CA_D_H929 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4311

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "1^" to H.P. 638, L.D. 978, "An Act to Increase
General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following;
'See. 1. 22 MRSA §4311, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2015,c. 267, Ft, SSSS,§1, is
further amended to read:
1. Departmental reimbursement. When a municipality incurs net general assistance
costs m any fiscal year prior to July 1, 2015 in excess of .0003 of that municipality's most
recent state valuation relative to the state fiscal year for which reimbursement is being
issued, as determined by the State Tax Assessor in the statement filed as provided in Title
36, section 381, the Department of Health and Human Services shall reimburse the
municipality for 90% of the amount in excess of these expendihires when the department
fmds that the municipality has been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter. If
a municipality elects to determine need without consideration of funds distributed from any
munioipally controlled municipallv controlled trust fund that must otherwise be considered
for purposes of this chapter, the department shall reimburse the municipality for 66 2/3%
of the amount in excess of such expenditures when the department finds that the
municipality has otherwise been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter,
The department shall reimburse each municipality and each Indian tribe 70% of the direct
costs incurred by that municipality or tribe on or after July 1,2015 and before July 1. 2026
for the general assistance program granted by that municipality or tribe. For the purposes
of this subsection, "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in seotion ^111, subsection 8 A,
Beeinning July 1.2026. the departaient shall reimburse each mynicipalitv and each Indian
tribe as follows:
A, For the 6 municipalities or Indian tribes receiving the highest amount of state
remibursement for the period beeinnine July 1. 2021 andendmgjune 30, 2025. the
department shall reimburse each municipality and each Indian tribe 70% of the direct
costs incurred by that municipality or t-ibe on or after July 1. 2026; and
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^e?»
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " | )" to H.P, 638, L.D. 978
B. For all other municipalities and Indian tribes, the department shall reimburse each
municipality and each Indian tribe 75% of the direct costs incurred by the municipality
or tribe for costs incurred on or after JuhdL, 2026.
For the purposes of this subsection. "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in section 411,
subsection 8-A,
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
General Assistance - Reimbursement to Cities and Towns 0130
Initiative; Provides funding for increased state reimbursement for the cost of municipal
general assistance to 75% of direct costs incurred by all municipalities on or after July 1,
2026, except for the top 6 recipients of state rehnbursement for general assistance for the
period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025, These 6 municipalities will continue to be
reimbursed 70% of the direct costs incurred for general assistance.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
AllOther $0 $265,771
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $265,771
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. It provides that the Department of Health and Human
Services is required to reimburse the 6 municipalities or Indian tribes receiving the highest
amount of state reimbursement for the period beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30,
2025 70% of the direct costs incurred by that municipality or tribe for net general assistance
costs incurred on or after July 1, 2026, For all other municipalities and Indian tribes, the
department is required to reimburse each municipality and each Indian tribe 75% of the
direct costs incurred by the municipality or tribe for net general assistance costs incurred
on or after July 1,2026.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/26/26 t-Kt-
LD 978 LR 1745(06)
An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^
Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $265,771 $265,771 $265,771
^propriationsA^JIocations
General Fund $0 $265,771 $265,771 $265,771
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $265,771
begimimg m fiscal year 2026-27 to provide for increased state reimbursement for the cost of municipal general
assistance to 75% of direct costs incuired by all municipalities on or after July 1,2026, except for the top 6 recipients
of state reimbursement for general assistance for the period of July 1,2021 to June 30, 2025. These 6 municipalities
will continue to be reimbursed 70% of the direct costs incurred for general assistance.
LR1745(06) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1