127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1097		LR 418(10)
	An Act To Improve the Integrity of Maine's Welfare Programs
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: C "A" (S-481) S "A" (S-542) to C "A" (S-481)
	Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note
Contingent future biennium savings stay in program - Federal Block Grant Fund Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to restrict use of benefits by recipients of temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) on specific items and activities. The DHHS is also required to convene a working group to determine feasible options for restricitng use of the electronic benfits (EBT) card on prohibited items. The working group will research and recommend the most effective means of ensuring that EBT cards are blocked from prohibited purchases at the point of sale, determine the cost of this system on the State and on businesses and report findings and recommendations to the legislature. Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt these changes are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Any savings achieved by prohibiting certain purchases and activities would likely not accrue to the General Fund due to the Maintenance of Effort spending required of the State to receive the TANF Federal Block Grant funds and would thus accrue to the TANF Federal Block Grant Fund.
	Any additional costs to the Department of the Attorney General are expected to be minor.