S.P. 657 - L.D. 1879
An Act to Increase Access to Basic Needs for Low-income Maine Children and Families
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3769-C is enacted to read:
§3769-C. Adjustment to amount of assistance; report
1. Amount of assistance. It is the goal of this section to provide low-income families with children sufficient income to meet their most basic needs. If the commissioner determines that unexpended funds are available within the Department of Human Services ASPIRE or TANF accounts, the commissioner may, by rule, use those funds to increase the maximum levels of assistance in the TANF Program.
2. Report required. If the department has not increased benefits to low-income families with children by at least 5% pursuant to this section by January 1, 2001, the commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs by February 1, 2001, comparing the State's TANF benefits to those of the other New England states and to the nonfarm income official poverty line. This report must identify the amount of funding required to raise benefit levels over periods of 3 years and 5 years to the average of the maximum benefit amounts for a family of 3 in all of the other New England states. This report must be made by the last business day in January of each subsequent year following a year in which maximum assistance levels were not increased by at least 5%, as long as the State's maximum assistance levels remain lower than the average of the New England states.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
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