Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §2451-A is enacted to read:

§2451-A.__Right to fair hearing in child support matters

1.__Former beneficiaries of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.__A former beneficiary of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who is aggrieved by a decision of the department relating to the distribution of child support arrearage payments has the right to a fair hearing.__Any action relative to the distribution of child support arrearage payments must be communicated to the former beneficiary in writing and must state that the beneficiary affected has the right to a hearing.

2.__Nonwelfare families.__A person receiving child support who is not eligible for welfare assistance from the department and who is aggrieved by a decision of the department relating to the timeliness and amount of child support payments has the right to a fair hearing.__Any action relative to the timeliness and amount of child support payments must be communicated in writing and must state that the person affected has the right to a hearing.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §§3174-U and 3174-V are enacted to read:

§3174-U.__Medicaid ombudsman program

1.__Program established.__The department shall establish and maintain a Medicaid ombudsman program by contract with such nonprofit organizations that the department finds best able to provide the services.__The purpose of the ombudsman program is to represent the best interests of individuals involved in the State's Medicaid program as a class and to investigate and resolve complaints against state agencies that may be infringing on the rights of individuals involved in the State's Medicaid program.

2. Powers and duties.__The ombudsman program may:

A.__Provide advocacy services to individual citizens in matters relating to those Medicaid services provided by and under the jurisdiction of the State;

B.__Review and evaluate, on a continuing basis, state and federal policies and programs relating to the provision of Medicaid services conducted or assisted by any state departments or agencies for the purpose of identifying and