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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the emergency clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 37-B MRSA §505, sub-§1-A,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. QQ, §2, is amended to read:
 
1-A. Financial assistance.   Financial assistance may be granted as follows.
 
A.  The bureau may provide a grant of temporary assistance not to exceed $200 per month and not to exceed $600 in any 12-month period to a veteran in this State who has filed a valid claim for a veteran's pension, pending notification of the award of such a pension, if that veteran is not incarcerated or a permanent resident of a nursing home and requests such assistance. For purposes of this paragraph, "claim for a veteran's pension" means a claim filed with the federal Veterans' Administration pursuant to 38 United States Code, Chapter 15.
 
B.  The bureau may provide a grant of emergency assistance not to exceed $500 to a veteran who demonstrates to the bureau's satisfaction a financial need and suffers an emergency, such as the loss ofdamage to that veteran's home due to fire, flood or hurricane, that is not fully compensable by insurance; illness or the illness of an immediate family member; or a similar emergency. In the case of a veteran with terminal illness or catastrophic injury, the director may provide a grant of up to $1,000. No more than $1,000 in emergency assistance may be provided to a veteran in any 12-month period. For the purposes of this paragraph, "veteran" has the same meaning as "eligible veteran" in section 504, subsection 4, paragraph A-1. Grants may not be issued for fuel assistance or due to loss of income due to unemployment while the veteran is receiving other unemployment benefits.
 
C.  A veteran who requests either temporary assistance under paragraph A or emergency assistance under paragraph B and is denied such assistance may request a reconsideration and review of this decision by the director. TheRequests for reconsideration of a claim must be reviewed by the director and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, and the decision of the directorafter the reconsideration is final and may not be appealed to a court.
 
D.  The department may adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A2-A.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Veterans Services 0110
 
Initiative: Provides an appropriation for one Veterans Services Officer position in Portland, one mobile Veterans Services Officer position and related administrative and operating costs.

GENERAL FUND	2007-08	2008-09	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	3.500	
Personal Services	$0	$192,000	
All Other	$0	$58,000	
 	  	  	
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$250,000	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment provides criteria for the award of grants under the emergency veterans assistance program. It strikes the increased distribution amounts proposed by the bill. The amendment replaces the appropriations and allocations section of the bill so that the money provided will be used to fund additional veterans services officers.
 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)