APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 8, 2021 97
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 44 - L.D. 78
An Act To Protect Children from Extreme Poverty by Preserving Children's
Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Benefits
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3763, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 588, Pt. D, §4, is
further amended to read:
1. Family contract. During the TANF orientation process, a representative of the
department and the TANF recipient shall enter into a family contract. The family contract
must state the responsibilities of the parties to the agreement including, but not limited to,
cooperation in child support enforcement and determination of paternity, the requirements
of the ASPIRE-TANF program and referral to parenting activities and health care services.
Except as provided in section 3762, subsection 4, refusal to sign the family contract or to
abide by the provisions of the contract, except for referral to parenting activities and health
care services, will result in termination of benefits under subsection 1-A. Failure to comply
with referrals to parenting activities or health care services without good cause will result
in a review and evaluation of the reason for noncompliance by the representative of the
department and may result in sanctions. Written copies of the family contract and a notice
of the right to a fair hearing must be given to the individual. The family contract must be
amended in accordance with section 3788 when a participant enters the ASPIRE-TANF
program and when participation review occurs.
Benefits that have been terminated under subsection 1‑A must be restored once the
noncomplying adult recipient signs a new family contract and complies with its provisions.
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3763, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. PP, §4, is
amended to read:
1-A. Partial and full termination of benefits. Benefits under this chapter must be
terminated by the department under the provisions of subsection 1 and sections 3785 and
3785-A as follows: in accordance with this subsection. If an adult recipient fails to meet
the conditions of a family contract, the department shall reduce the family's amount of
assistance by terminating benefits that apply to that noncomplying adult.
Page 1 - 130LR0072(03)
 A. For a first failure to meet the conditions of a family contract, termination of benefits
applies to the adult recipient;
B. For a first failure to meet the conditions of a family contract for which termination
of benefits under paragraph A lasts for longer than 90 days and for a 2nd and
subsequent violation, termination of benefits applies to the adult recipient and the full
family unit; and
C. Prior to the implementation of a full family unit sanction, the department shall offer
the adult recipient an opportunity to claim good cause for noncompliance as described
in section 3785.
Benefits that have been terminated under this subsection must be restored once the
noncomplying adult recipient signs a new contract under subsection 1 and complies with
the provisions of the family contract.
Sec. 3. Reports by Department of Health and Human Services. No later than
January 1, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Joint
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services an interim report on the
implementation of the removal of the full family unit sanction under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program pursuant to section 2. No later than January 1,
2023, the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters a
final report regarding the effects of the removal of the full family unit sanction.
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
Initiative: Provides allocation to terminate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
benefits for only the noncomplying parent but continue assistance to the children and
complying parents.
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 2021-22 2022-23
All Other $0 $753,666
__________ __________
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL $0 $753,666
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 78, HP 44: 22.3763
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 97: 22.3763