127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 369		LR 598(01)
	An Act To Align Municipal General Assistance Programs with the Immigration Status Policies of the Department of Health and Human Services
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Sen. Brakey of Androscoggin
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2015-16	FY 2016-17	Projections  FY 2017-18	Projections  FY 2018-19
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)	($3,112,981)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill is estimated to save the General Assistance - Reimbursement to Cities and Towns program $3,112,981 beginning in fiscal year 2015-16 associated with the change in eligiblity for a person who has been determined ineligible to receive benefits administered by the Department of Health and Human Services on the basis of a law, rule or regulation related to that person's immigration status being ineligible to receive municipal general assistance program benefits. The department stopped making this type of General Assistance payment on June 15th, 2014 based on a federal law (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) which made not qualified immigrants ineligible for state and local public benefit programs. There was never a baseline reduction to the appropriation for this change in June of 2014, so the department will require annual general fund deappropriations of $3,112,981 beginning in fiscal year 2015-16 to fully book the savings. Part DDD of the Governor's proposed 2016-2017 Biennial Budget makes this same change to statute and the fiscal impact of this bill may change depending on final resolution of the budget.