An Act to Update the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0834
Committee Amendment CA_A_S336 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3271, 22 MRSA §3272, 22 MRSA §3273

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" Pr,, to S.P. 366, L.D. 834, "An Act to Update the 
State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income,, 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec, 1. 22 MRSA §3271, sub-§2, as amended by PL2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §65, is 
ftuther amended to read: 
• 
• 
2, The depa1tment1 to the extent allowed by Title XVI of the United States Social 
Security Act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall establish standard 
levels of state supplemental income benefits for blind, disabled and elderly people. The 
benefits must be provided under a modified flat benefit system, and may vary by marital 
status, and by living arrangements to the extent allowed by Title XVI of the United States 
Social Security Act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder. The benefits 
may not be based on individual budgeted need and may not va1y by categoty or 
geogrnphical area. Benefits for a couple, except as provided undei· section 3273, subsection 
1, parngraph B, must be equal to the sum of the amount of benefit fo1· efl each individual 
and 50% of the benefit fo1· an indh•idual in the couple. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3272, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1973, c. 790, §3, is amended to 
read: 
1. Standard. The standard utilized to detel'mine need sh:al-1 must be the current annual 
budget at the lower level of living for a retirnd eouple an individual as most recently 
determined by the United States Depat·tment of Labol', Bureau of Labor Statistics, for 
Pottland, Maine, or budgets whieh that are consistent with such a budget at the lowe1· level 
of living, taking into account budget variances by marital status and living a1Tangements 
permited permitted pursuant to Title XVI of the United States Social Security Act, as 
amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
Sec, 3. 22 MRSA §3273, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1985, c. 770, §3, is futther 
amended to read: 
Page l - 132LR1494(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'fl "to S.P. 366, L.D. 834 (5,#0 ]'JG) 
1. Combined benefits, The department shall take action, as necessary, to ftSS¼lfe 
~ 
that, within the limits of available funds, a state supplemental income benefit, when 
combined with a federal supplemental security income benefit, shall oonsist consists of 
such amounts that the sum sha-1-l must: 
A. Increase the minimum monthly federal payment standat·d, in addition to that 
established pursuant to federal law, by an amount of at least $8 $65 per month for an 
individual and $ l2 per month fol· a eouple; 
B. For an individual who resides in an adult foster home or boarding home, having a 
contract with the department for the provision of services to eligible residents, or 
nursing home, as defined in section 1812"A, in addition to the benefits provided hereit¼ 
under paragraphs A and C, provide sufficient income to allow the individual foi• 
personal needs an amount equal to at least $30 a month, plus an ~mount sufficient to 
meet the monthly per resident payment rate as established by the department of the 
adult foster home or boarding home in which the individual resides; and 
C. For a beneficiary who resides in a living arrangement wh-ie-h that meets a living 
arrangement classification established by the department, but who does not reside· in 
an adult foster home or boarding home, in addition to the minimum federal payment 
level as adjusted pursuant to paragrnph A, provide, based on such living arrangement 
classification, an amount not to exceed $42 pe1· month for an individual and $63 pel' 
month fo1· a couple. 
Sec. 4, 22 MRSA §3273, sub-§6, ,il-1, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 528, Pt. E, §25 
and affected by Pt. RRR and enacted by c. 591, Pt. E, §25, is amended to read: 
B-1. 
On July 1st of eve1y year, the sum of the monthly amount of any state 
supplemental income benefit authorized by subsection 1, paragraphs A and C, plus the 
amount of the minimum monthly federal supplemental security income in effect at that 
time must be increased by a percentage amount equal to the percentage rise in the 
United States Co11sumer Price Index for April 1st of that year over the level of the 
Index for Apl'il 1st of the previous year plus any additional petcentage amount as is 
recommended annually by the department. Such an increase may be made only insofar 
as appropriations are available. In determining the additional percentage amount, 
consideration must be given to the goal ofreaching, within a reasonable time, a benefit 
level equal to or consistent with the current budget at the lower level of living for a 
l'etired couple an individual established by the United States Depa1tment of Labor, 
Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Po1tland, Maine. 
If, on April 1st of any year, the sum of the monthly amount of any state supplemental 
payment authorized by subsection 1, paragraphs A and C, plus the amount of the 
minimum monthly federal supplemental security income in effect at that time, is equal 
to or exceeds the amount resulting from 12 divided into the current annual budget at 
the lower level of living for a retired eouple an individual as most recently established 
by the United States Department of Lab01·, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Pottland, 
Maine1 or taking into account variances by marital smtl:ls and living arrangements as 
established by the department, a budget that is not inconsistent with that annual budget 
divided by 12, the increase provided on July 1st next following is limited to the 
percentage rise in the Consumer Price Index. 
This paragraph takes effect July l 1 1993. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" /t "to S.P. 366, L,D. 834 (S-1.16) 
Sec. 5, 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
State Supplement to Federal Supplemental Security Income 0131 
Initiative: Provides funding to increase the minimum state supplemental income benefit for 
recipients of federal supplemental security income from $8 per month to $65 per month for 
an individual and to increase the combined state supplemental benefit for a couple, each of 
whom qualify for the benefit) from 150% to 200% of the benefit for an individual. • 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Othe1· 
$23,135,664 
$23,135,664 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$23,135)664 
$23,135,664 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment does the fotlowing. 
1. It replaces provisions of law that currently provide that payments to couples, both 
of whom receive the supplement, are 150% of the benefit for an individua.1 with provisions 
of law providing that payments to the couples are 200% of the benefit for an individual. 
2. It requires that the standard used to determine need is the current annual budget at 
the lower level of living for an individual as most recently determined by the United States 
Depa1tment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine, or budgets consistent 
with such a budget taking into account budget variances by living arrangements permitted 
pursuant to Title XVI of the United States Social Security Act. 
3. It establishes that, in determining any increase according to the United States 
Consumer Price Index, considerntion must be given to the goal of reaching, within a 
reasonable time, a benefit level equal to 01· consistent with the current budget at the lower 
level of living for an individual, rather than a retired couple, established by the United 
States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Portland, Maine. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/05/25 LRL-
LD 834 
LR 1494(02) 
An Act to Update the State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by,Committee Amendment 'W'C5..-')3b) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-26 
$23,135,664 
FY 2026-27 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
$23,135,664 
$23,165,664 
$23,135,664 
$23,165,664 
Projections 
FY2028-29 
$23,135,664 
$23,135,664 
The bill includes ongoing annual General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of 
$23,135,664 beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 to increase the minimum benefit prnvided under the state si1pplement to 
federal supplemental security income program from $8 per month to $65 per month for an individual and to increase 
the combined benefit for a couple, each of whom qualify for the benefit, from 150% to 200% of the individual benefit 
amount. 
LR1494(02) - Fiscal Note - Page l of 1