128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 220 LR 792(01)
An Act To Align Time Limits in the Municipal General Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
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
Potential current biennium savings - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Aligning the time limits for General Assistance (GA) with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) will reduce assistance payments made by municipalities and reduce amounts reimbursed to municipalities by the Department of Health and Human Services. The potential savings to the department is not expected to be significant because 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 an individual reaching the lifetime TANF limit also accessing GA resides at the municipal level and varies over time.