An Act to Increase
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0978
Committee Amendment CA_C_H928 (House)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4311

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " •l^" 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 enactmg 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 expenditures when the department
finds 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 municipally conti-olled 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 mcurred 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 subsoction, "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in section /! 11, Gubseotion 8 A.
Beginning July 1, 2Q26,jhe department shall reimburse each municipalitv and each Indian
tribe 75% of the du-ect costs incurred by that municipality or tribe for costs incurred on or
after July 1.2026.
For the purposes of this subsection. "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in section 41 L
subsection 8-A,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
:-y. g COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^* " to H.P. 638, L.D. 978
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.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $0 $1,825,207
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $1,825,207
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbermg 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 municipalities and Indian tribes 75% of the direct costs
for net general assistance incurred by such a municipality or Indian tribe for costs incurred
on or after July 1, 2026.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/26/26 t-Ri-
LD 978 LR 1745(05)
An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes
z
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 $1,825,207 $1,825,207 $1,825,207
^ppropriations/AUocations
General Fund $0 $1,825,207 $1,825,207 $1,825,207
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $1,825,207
begummg m fiscal year 2026-27 to provide 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.
LR1745(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1