Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §3307-G is enacted to read:

§3307-G.__Comparative report on welfare

The State Planning Office shall study welfare in the State and in the other New England states and shall submit a comparative report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs by January 1, 2006.__In studying welfare, the State Planning Office shall consider all forms of federal, state and municipal welfare payable to or on behalf of persons or families that reside in those states.__The report must consider, among other programs, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, chapter 1053-B, the federal food stamp and heating assistance programs, emergency assistance under Title 22, chapter 1053-A, general assistance under Title 22, chapter 1161, the federal Social Security and Social Security Disability programs and the MaineCare and Cub Care programs under Title 22, chapter 855, the Maine Rx Plus Program under Title 22, chapter 603, the elderly low-cost drug program under Title 22, section 254 and other health care and prescription drug programs.__The State Planning Office shall update the report by January 1, 2008 and every 2 years thereafter.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the State Planning Office to study welfare in the State and the other New England states and submit a comparative report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs by January 1, 2006. The report must cover all forms of federal, state and municipal welfare, including the TANF program, food stamps, heating assistance, emergency assistance, general assistance, Social Security and Social Security Disability, the MaineCare, Cub Care, Maine Rx Plus and the elderly low-cost drug programs and other health care and prescription drug programs. The bill requires the State Planning Office to update the report by January 1, 2008 and every 2 years thereafter.