An Act to Require the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0052
Committee Amendment CA_A_H667 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDJ\1ENT "P\" to H.P. 16, L.D. 52, "An Act to Require the 
Department of Health and Human Services to Apply for Federal Benefits on Behalf of 
Children in the Department's Custody Who May Be Eligible for Those Benefits" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to Study Options 
for Allowing Children in the Department's Custody to Receive Federal Benefits' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, children in the custody of the State have significant disadvantages and 
receiving federal benefits to which they are entitled could provide some mitigation to those 
disadvantages; and 
Whereas, an effective date of 90 days after adjournment does not allow sufficient 
time for the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct an examination of 
options for allowing such children to receive federal benefits; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to study options for 
allowing children in department's custody to receive federal benefits. 
0 
Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall study options for 
allowing children who are in the department's custody and who may be eligible for a federal 
benefit to keep that benefit in a special needs trnst until the child exits the custody of the 
department. The department shall review programs that have been implemented in other 
states and municipalities that allow children to retain federal benefits. The department shall 
estimate the number of children in this State that may be eligible for federal benefits, the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
o<o 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A' to H.P. 16, L.D. 52 
cost to the State if those benefits are kept in trust and are no longer available for paying for 
the cost of care of children in custody and the cost to the State of administering the trust 
funds and evaluate whether there is a need for financial literacy training for children with 
federal benefits in trust funds. The department shall consult with any stakeholders and 
individuals with relevant expe1tise. For the purposes of this section, "federal benefit" 
means a benefit administered by the United States Social Security Administration under 
Title II of the United States Social Security Act or by the United States Department of 
Veterans Affairs. The department shall submit a report no later than January 2, 2026 with 
its findings and any suggested statutory changes necessary to implement a program that 
allows children in state custody to retain federal benefits to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Health and Human Services. The committee is authorized to report out legislation to 
the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
Sec. 2. 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
State-funded Foster Care/Adoption Assistance 0139 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding to contract for services to study options for allowing 
children in the custody of the department to retain certain federal benefits in a special needs 
trust. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
2025-26 
$125,000 
$125,000 
2026-27 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. 
The amendment requires the 
Department of Health and Human Services to study options for allowing children who are 
in the department's custody and who may be eligible for a federal benefit to keep that 
benefit in a special needs trust until the child exits the custody of the department. The 
department must review programs that have been implemented in other states and 
municipalities that allow children to retain federal benefits. The department must estimate 
the number of children in this State that may be eligible for federal benefits, the cost to the 
State if those benefits are kept in trust and are no longer available for paying for the cost of 
care of children in custody and the cost to the State of administering trust funds and evaluate 
whether there is a need for financial literacy training for children with federal benefits in 
trust funds. The department must submit a report with findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, no later than January 2, 2026 to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services. The committee is authorized to report out 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT""' to H.P. 16, L.D. 52 
legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. The amendment 
replaces the emergency preamble. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/05/25 LRL 
LD52 
LR 109(02) 
An Act to Require the Department of Health and Human Services to Apply for Federal Benefits on 
Behalf of Children in the Department's Custody Who May Be Eligible for Those Benefits 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'"" /.H- 1 1 ~ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
r'\ ( I-
{Jlf I) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-26 
$125,000 
FY2026-27 
$0 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
Projections 
FY 2028-29 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$125,000 
$0 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$125,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 to contract for services to study options for allowing children in the custody of the 
department to retain certain federal benefits in a special needs trust. 
LR0109(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1 
$0