Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §5323, sub-§2, ¶¶C and D, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. DDD, §14, are amended to read:

C. Seek federal, state and private funds to combat poverty in the State; and

D. Advise the Governor, the Legislature and local officials on the impact of state and local policies on poverty in the State.; and

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §5323, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:

E.__Compile and publish an annual basic needs budget for a single parent with 2 children that includes the following expenditure categories:__housing, transportation, child care, health care insurance and out-of-pocket health care expenses, clothing, food, personal care and recreation.__ This annual basic needs budget must include a brief description of the expense assumptions used for each of the expenditure categories and a calculation of the annual, monthly, weekly and hourly income needed to meet this basic needs budget.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Human Services, Division of Purchased and Support Services, in connection with its current duty to monitor the poverty level in the State, to compile and publish an annual basic needs budget for a single parent with 2 children that includes basic expenses and a calculation of the income needed to meet this basic needs budget.