127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1035 LR 1414(02)
An Act To Create a 9-month Time Limit on General Assistance Benefits
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium savings - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Limiting the number of days a person capable of working and who does not have any dependents may receive general assistance benefits to 275 days every 5 years may produce savings to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Since General Assistance is administered by municipalities, DHHS does not have client specific data to determine how long recipients have received benefits. If implemented, municipalities would manage the new limitation and lower their requests for reimbursement by the State. The number of clients who currently exceed the 9-month time limit is not estimated to be a significant percentage of all clients.