Whereas, the first incremental increase in levels of assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families will occur before the expiration of the 90-day period; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3769-B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. S, §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§3769-B.__Assistance in meeting basic needs

1-A.__Levels of assistance.__The department shall increase the TANF maximum payment levels for a family of 3 by 10% on July 1, 2001 and incrementally on each July 1st thereafter by an amount necessary to reach, by no later than July 1, 2005, at least the average maximum payment for a family of 3 on January 1, 2004 in the other New England states.__If another New England state had more than one maximum payment in effect for a family of 3 on January 1, 2004, the department shall use the maximum payment applied to the largest number of recipients in that state.__ Whenever the maximum payment is increased for a family of 3, it must be increased proportionately for families of other sizes.__ Whenever the maximum payment is increased, the department shall also increase the standard of need by an amount necessary to maintain the difference between the payment standard and standard of need that was in effect on January 1, 2001.__This subsection does not require a particular amount of increase in any fiscal year as long as the increase is at least equal to the increase in the consumer price index for the prior year, using the same consumer price index that is used to adjust the federal poverty level.

3-A.__Coordination with special housing allowance.__The assistance increase required by subsection 1-A does not decrease the special housing allowance payment under section 3762, subsection 3, paragraph B, subparagraph (6) to assistance units that have received the special housing allowance without interruption since January 2001.