Sec. 1. Housing special need allowance. Funds appropriated or allocated to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or to the Parents as Scholars Program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1054-B that remain unexpended on June 30, 2003 and on June 30, 2004 must be used by the Department of Human Services to increase, in fiscal years 2004 and 2005, respectively, the housing special need allowance described in Title 22, section 3762, subsection 3, paragraph B, subparagraph (6) to a limit of $75 per month for eligible families. If the unexpended balances are insufficient to provide the funds necessary to increase the housing special need allowance to $75 a month, then the department shall increase the allowance to the extent to which funds are available from the unexpended balances.

SUMMARY

If there are unexpended balances in funds appropriated to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or to the Parents as Scholars Program at the end of fiscal years 2003 and 2004, this bill will use those funds to restore in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 the housing special need allowance received by families who receive TANF and Parents as Scholars, up to $75 per month. This restores the allowance to the amount that it was when it was first enacted in 1991.