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Amend the bill in section 8 in §24 by striking out all of the first indented paragraph (page 2, lines 16 to 20 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘
The commissioner shall place a photograph of a recipient of benefits under a program specified in section 22 or a recipient’s authorized representative on the recipient's electronic benefits transfer card if agreed to in writing by the recipient. When a recipient of benefits is a minor or an incapacitated individual, the commissioner may place a photograph of the recipient's authorized representative on the EBT card. For purposes of this section, "authorized representative" means any person the recipient has duly designated to represent the recipient in accordance with procedures established by the department and who is not prohibited by applicable law or regulation to serve in that capacity.’
Amend the bill in section 8 in §24 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 2, lines 21 to 24 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘1.  Government-issued identification card.    An electronic benefits transfer card with a photograph of a recipient or a recipient’s authorized representative is deemed a government-issued identification card.’
Amend the bill in section 8 in §25 in the 2nd to last line (page 2, line 37 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "excessive number of" and inserting the following: 'reasons for the'
Amend the bill in section 11 in subsection 15 in paragraph D in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page 3, lines 40 and 41 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "of a 2nd or subsequent felony offense as provided in paragraph A. An individual who has been convicted of" and inserting the following: 'on or after July 1, 2017 of a 2nd or subsequent felony offense described in paragraph A. An individual who has been convicted of such'
Amend the bill in section 15 in subsection 18 by striking out all of the first paragraph (page 5, lines 36 to 41, page 6, lines 1 to 5 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘18.  Lifetime limit on assistance.    As used in this subsection, "family group" or "household" means an applicant for or recipient of TANF assistance, a child care subsidy or employment services and all individuals living with the applicant or recipient who have legal responsibility for or a qualifying caretaker relationship to a child of the applicant or recipient. A family group is not eligible for TANF assistance, a child care subsidy or employment services if the family group contains at least one adult member who has received TANF assistance, including federal TANF assistance received in any other state, for 36 or more calendar months since October 1, 1996, unless the commissioner determines a hardship exists and grants an extension allowing receipt of TANF assistance for a total of 60 months. An extension beyond 60 months may not be granted. A hardship exists when the recipient:’
Amend the bill in section 20 in subsection 9 in paragraph B in the 2nd to last line (page 8, line 33 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "successfully prosecuted" and inserting the following: 'prosecuted that result in conviction'
Amend the bill by adding after section 20 the following:
‘Sec. 21. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
 
Child Support 0100
 
Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation and allocation for technology changes to the child support enforcement system.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$21,323	$0	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$21,323	$0	

FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$41,391	$0	
			
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL	$41,391	$0	

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 0143
 
Initiative: Provides a one-time appropriation for technology upgrades required for electronic benefits transfer card photo implementation.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$95,850	$0	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$95,850	$0	

Office for Family Independence Z020
 
Initiative: Provides on-going appropriations and allocations for electronic income verification.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$141,480	$141,480	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$141,480	$141,480	

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$172,920	$172,920	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$172,920	$172,920	

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for technology changes to the Automated Client Eligibility System.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$554,668	$0	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$554,668	$0	

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2017-18	2018-19	
			
GENERAL FUND	$258,653	$141,480	
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND	$41,391	$0	
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	$172,920	$172,920	
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	$554,668	$0	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$1,027,632	$314,400	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, clarifies that the photograph of an authorized representative of a recipient of benefits issued through an electronic benefits transfer card may be included on the recipient's electronic benefits transfer cards and that such an electronic benefits transfer card is a government-issued identification card. It clarifies that an individual is permanently disqualified from receiving food assistance through the food supplement program if, on or after July 1, 2017, the individual has been convicted of a 2nd or subsequent felony offense that includes as an element of the offense the manufacture, cultivation, distribution, possession or use of a controlled substance. It clarifies that a family group is not eligible for TANF assistance, a child care subsidy or employment services if the family group contains at least one adult member who has received TANF assistance, including federal TANF assistance received in any other state, for 36 or more calendar months since October 1, 1996, unless the Commissioner of Health and Human Services determines a hardship exists.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)