CHAPTER 99
S.P. 116 - L.D. 334
An Act To Establish a Transportation Assistance Pilot Program
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §372, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 731, Pt. FF, §4, is further amended to read:
1. Creation of fund. There is established the Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund, which must be used to provide funding for adaptive equipment loans to qualified borrowers within the State in order to acquire adaptive equipment designed to assist the borrower in becoming independent and for other purposes as allowed under section 376. The fund must be deposited with, maintained and administered by the Finance Authority of Maine and contain appropriations provided for that purpose, interest accrued on the fund balance, funds received by the board to be applied to the fund and funds received in repayment of loans. This fund is a nonlapsing revolving fund. All money in the fund must be continuously applied to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §376, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 817, §2, is amended to read:
§376. Purposes for which loans may be awarded
The board may award loans to qualifying borrowers for the following purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Individual independence. To assist one or more persons with disabilities to improve their independence through the purchase of adaptive equipment; and
2. Productive members of community. To assist one or more persons with disabilities to become more independent members of the community and improve quality of life within the community through the purchase of adaptive equipment.; and
3. Transportation assistance. For the purpose set forth in section 377, subject to the limitations set forth in that section. This subsection is repealed June 30, 2005.
Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §377 is enacted to read:
§377. Loans for transportation assistance pilot program
The board may award loans for the purpose of assisting persons with disabilities to purchase used vehicles necessary to obtain or retain employment or employment training, subject to the following limitations.
1. Qualifications of borrower. A loan may be made under this section only to a qualifying borrower who meets the other requirements of this chapter and who demonstrates a need for a vehicle as part of an individualized plan toward employment developed with a state or community-based organization that provides employment services to persons with disabilities and that is approved by the board.
2. Limitation on loan amount. Loans made under this section may not exceed $7,000 per qualifying borrower.
3. Aggregate amount of loans. The maximum aggregate amount of loans made under this section may not exceed $250,000 in fiscal year 2003-04 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2004-05.
4. Repeal. This section is repealed June 30, 2005.
Sec. 4. Report. The Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund Board shall present a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters before January 1, 2005. The report must identify the number and dollar amount of loans made under the transportation assistance pilot program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 377 and the repayment history of borrowers under the program.
Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.
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