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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 18-A MRSA §5-408, sub-§(6), as enacted by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. DDD, §4 and affected by §17, is amended to read:
 
(6).   The court may authorize a gift or other transfer for less than fair market value from the protected person's estate other than to the protected person's spouse or dependent, blind or disabled child if the court finds that the gift or other transfer will not, directly or indirectly, diminish the protected person's estate in order to qualify for federal or state aid or benefits, including the MaineCare program under Title 22, chapter 855, andif the court finds:
 
(a). That the remaining estate assets of the protected person are sufficient for the protected person's care and maintenance for the next 3660 months, including due provision for the protected person's established standard of living and for the support of any persons the protected person is legally obligated to support and any dependents of the protected person; and
 
(b).  That the gift or other transfer will not hasten the date of eligibility for MaineCare coverage of the protected person's long-term care expenses during the next 3660 months.
 
This subsection does not prevent a transferIf the gift or other transfer is being made to the protected person's spouse or blind or disabled child or to a trust established pursuant to 42 United States Code, Section 1396p(d)(4), or is otherwise specifically allowed without a transfer penalty by law governing the federal Medicaid program under 42 United States Code, the court may authorize the gift or other transfer without making the findings under paragraphs (a) and (b).
Sec. 2. 18-A MRSA §5-409, sub-§(d), as enacted by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. DDD, §6 and affected by §17, is amended to read:
 
(d).    The court may authorize a gift or other transfer for less than fair market value from the protected person's estate other than to the protected person's spouse or dependent, blind or disabled child if the court finds that the gift or other transfer will not, directly or indirectly, diminish the protected person's estate in order to qualify for federal or state aid or benefits, including the MaineCare program under Title 22, chapter 855, andif the court finds:
 
(1).  That the remaining estate assets of the protected person are sufficient for the protected person's care and maintenance for the next 3660 months, including due provision for the protected person's established standard of living and for the support of any persons the protected person is legally obligated to support and any dependents of the protected person; and
 
(2).  That the gift or other transfer will not hasten the date of eligibility for MaineCare coverage of the protected person's long-term care expenses during the next 3660 months.
 
This subsection does not prevent a transferIf the gift or other transfer is being made to the protected person's spouse or blind or disabled child or to a trust established pursuant to 42 United States Code, Section 1396p(d)(4), or is otherwise specifically allowed without a transfer penalty by law governing the federal Medicaid program under 42 United States Code, the court may authorize the gift or other transfer without making the findings under paragraphs (1) and (2).
Sec. 3. 18-A MRSA §5-425, sub-§(b-1), as enacted by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. DDD, §8 and affected by §17, is amended to read:
 
(b-1).    The court may authorize a gift or other transfer for less than fair market value from the protected person's estate other than to the spouse or dependent, blind or disabled child if the court finds that the gift or other transfer will not, directly or indirectly, diminish the protected person's estate in order to qualify for federal or state aid or benefits, including the MaineCare program under Title 22, chapter 855, andif the court finds:
 
(1).  That the remaining estate assets of the protected person are sufficient for the protected person's care and maintenance for the next 3660 months, including due provision for the protected person's established standard of living and for the support of any persons the protected person is legally obligated to support and any dependents of the protected person; and
 
(2).  That the gift or other transfer will not hasten the date of eligibility for MaineCare coverage of the protected person's long-term care expenses during the next 3660 months.
 
This subsection does not prevent a transferIf the gift or other transfer is being made to the protected person's spouse or blind or disabled child or to a trust established pursuant to 42 United States Code, Section 1396p(d)(4), or is otherwise specifically allowed without a transfer penalty by law governing the federal Medicaid program under 42 United States Code, the court may authorize the gift or other transfer without making the findings under paragraphs (1) and (2).’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment clarifies that any gift or transfer that can be made without a transfer penalty under applicable federal law may be approved by the Probate Court without the court's making findings about the adequacy of the estate or the potential eligibility for MaineCare coverage.