128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 10		LR 896(01)
	An Act To Build Greater Accountability into the General Assistance Program by Increasing the Penalty for Falsely Representing Information on an Application for General Assistance
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Picchiotti of Fairfield
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Current biennium savings - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Extending the ineligible period for falsifying an application for general assistance from 120 days to 24 months will reduce assistance payments made by municipalities and reduce amounts reimbursed to municipalities by the Department of Health and Human Services. The savings to the department is not expected to be significant because the frequency of falsification is very small and recipients typically do not stay in the program, having to reapply each month they seek help. A more precise estimate of the fiscal impact is not possible because recipient data related to number of months on assistance, amounts paid to each recipient, number of recipients who return and the frequency of falsification resides at the municipal level and varies over time.