15 This bill requires the Maine State Housing Authority to establish and administer the
16 Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program. The program must include a rental
17 assistance component to assist individuals with the cost of rent and a rental guarantee
18 component to encourage landlords to work with the program and other rental assistance
19 programs in the State. The bill also creates the Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee
20 Program Fund under the Maine State Housing Authority to carry out the program. The bill
21 appropriates $75,500,000 of ongoing funds annually. The bill amends the Maine Human Rights Act to include as prohibited acts the discrimination against a tenant because the tenant participates in a federal, state or local tenant-based rental assistance program and requires owners of more than 10 residential rental units to ensure that at least 10% of the rental units that they rent meet the definition of affordable housing. The bill amends the laws governing the municipal general assistance program by redefining maximum levels of assistance to better reflect the cost of basic necessities experienced by persons who participate in the program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a comprehensive application form for applicants of general assistance, emergency assistance and rental assistance. It requires municipalities to exceed the maximum levels of assistance in order to alleviate an emergency and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for 100% of additional expenditures. It requires municipalities to provide culturally appropriate and trauma-informed services when administering the general assistance program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide training to ensure that the municipalities comply with the requirements of the program. The bill amends the laws governing the real estate transfer tax by creating a graduated tax based upon the sales price of the real estate and dedicates those funds to assist in funding the Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program. The bill amends the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by further defining a debt collector as any entity that attempts to collect unpaid rent where the rent is
43 unaffordable. It prohibits any entity from reporting to a credit reporting agency the
44 nonpayment of rent that is unaffordable.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1710, HP 1099: 5.4581, 22.3763, 22.4305, 22.4308, 22.4309, 22.4311, 22.4323, 30-A.4765, 32.11002, 36.4641