| | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
|
| | | Sec. 1. 5 MRSA c. 155, sub-c. III is enacted to read: |
|
| | | CONTRACTING WITH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZAITONS |
|
| | | As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise | | indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. |
|
| | | 1.__Faith-based organization.__"Faith-based organization" | | means an organization with a religious character that may be | | affiliated with a church, synagogue, mosque or temple or | | unaffiliated, but inspired by religious beliefs and is | | established to carry out a religious mission of care to those | | needing public assistance as defined in Title 22, section 9-A. |
|
| | | 2.__Forms of disbursement.__"Forms of disbursement" means | | certificates or vouchers or any other means of distributing | | public assistance benefits to eligible recipients. |
|
| | | 3.__Program.__"Program" has the same meaning as defined in | | Title 22, section 21, subsection 10. |
|
| | | §1828.__Contracts for goods and services; religious |
|
| | | Notwithstanding the provisions of Title 22, chapter 1 or any | | other provisions of law, a state agency, board or commission may | | not discriminate against religious organizations in contracting | | for goods and services and shall provide recipients under the | | programs established by law with forms of disbursement that are | | redeemable with religious organizations that are awarded a | | contract.__A state agency, board or commission may use any state, | | federal, local or other funds available for these purposes. |
|
| | | State agencies, boards or commissions shall allow contracts | | with religious organizations to provide goods and services and to | | accept forms of disbursement under any program established on the | | same basis as any other nongovernmental provider without | | impairing the religious character of these organizations and | | without diminishing the religious freedom of recipients funded | | under these programs.__The programs must be implemented | | consistent with the First Amendment of the United States | | Constitution.__A state agency, board or commission may not | | discriminate against an organization that is or applies to be a |
|
|
