Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 2 (page 1, lines 17 to 28 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘Sec.
2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1. Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2. Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
3. Three members appointed by the Governor who possess expertise in public assistance programs and programs to assist people to achieve employment. One member must represent the executive branch, one member must represent municipal administrators of general assistance programs and one member must represent employers in the State;
4. One member appointed by the President of the Senate who represents the academic community and possesses policy and research expertise in public assistance programs and poverty; and
5. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House who possess expertise in public assistance programs. One member must represent nonprofit organizations and possess policy expertise in public assistance programs that help people move out of poverty, and one member must be a person who has successfully transitioned from poverty and reliance on the State's public benefit programs to sustainable employment; and be it further’
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 6 (page 2, lines 6 to 13 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘Sec.
6. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall meet up to 8 times to review and make evidence-based recommendations, including any suggested legislation, on initiatives needed to help families receiving municipal, state or federal public assistance move out of poverty to independence through employment. The task force shall identify any provisions in current state policy, law and rules that penalize or create a disincentive to work and make needed recommendations to eliminate any such barriers and propose new policies that support and promote stable and lasting employment. In performing its work, the task force shall review categories of public assistance available to residents of the State and eligibility requirements; termination of eligibility, assistance and benefits; transitional assistance and benefits; barriers to independence from public assistance; related legislative reports and academic research conducted in the State; and initiatives to assist people to achieve employment; and be it further’
summary
This amendment increases the membership of the Task Force on Independence from Public Assistance from 9 members to 13 members. In addition to the task force's duties in the resolve, the amendment requires the task force to identify provisions in current state policy, law and rules that penalize or create a disincentive to work and make recommendations on how to eliminate those barriers and to review legislative and academic studies conducted in Maine. It clarifies that recommendations made to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services must be evidence-based.