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An Act To Reduce Food Insecurity and Promote Economic Growth
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3104, sub-§17  is enacted to read:
 
17.  Waiver of federal limits on assistance for individuals residing in areas with high unemployment or insufficient jobs.     Beginning with federal fiscal year 2020 and for each federal fiscal year thereafter, the department shall seek a waiver pursuant to 7 United States Code, Section 2015(o)(4) to allow individuals otherwise subject to the 3-month limit on food supplement program benefits pursuant to 7 United States Code, Section 2015(o)(2) to continue to receive food supplement program benefits if those individuals reside in counties, labor market areas or other areas that qualify for a waiver because of high unemployment or a lack of a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for those individuals. The department shall adopt routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this subsection.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3108, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Reliable data.     In calculating the amount of the food stamp standard utility allowance, the department shall rely on reliable data reflecting actual utility costs in the State.
Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to seek waiver. The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements for an asset test for determining the eligibility of any household under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the State pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3104 when the household includes an individual who is 60 years of age or older or an individual with a disability or when the household does not include children.
 
SUMMARY
This bill accomplishes the following.
1. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to seek a waiver beginning with federal fiscal year 2020, which begins October 1, 2019, and for each federal fiscal year thereafter to allow individuals otherwise subject to a 3-month limit on federal food supplement program benefits to continue to receive benefits if those individuals reside in counties, labor market areas or other areas that qualify for a waiver because of high unemployment or a lack of a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for those individuals.
2. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to calculate the amount of the food stamp standard utility allowance using reliable data reflecting actual utility costs in Maine.
3. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to request the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the asset test for determining the eligibility for the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program of any household in which there is an individual who is 60 years of age or older or an individual with a disability or that does not include children.