Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Establish a Working Group To Examine Ways for Municipalities To Distribute More Heating Assistance

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a working group to examine ways for municipalities to distribute more heating assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish a working group to examine ways for municipalities to provide additional heating assistance for low-income individuals, including through the municipal general assistance program, particularly during periods of unmet need under the federal Low Income Heating Assistance Program. For the purposes of the study, "low-income individuals" means persons eligible for the federal Low Income Heating Assistance Program. The working group must include representatives from each of the agencies and organizations on the general assistance committee established in Resolve 2003, chapter 116 as well as at least one representative from the Maine State Housing Authority and at least one representative from community action programs. The working group may also include any other persons or representatives of organizations determined appropriate by the department; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report and recommendations. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall report its findings under section 1 and recommendations, including suggested legislation if appropriate, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters no later than December 15, 2006; and be it further

Sec. 3. Authority to report out legislation. Resolved: That the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over state and local government matters is authorized to report out legislation concerning the study under section 1 to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.