Code of Maine Rules
10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL
Chapter 323 - MAINE GENERAL ASSISTANCE MANUAL
Section 144-323-III - RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Every municipality must administer a General Assistance Program.

2. Ordinance. The municipal officers of each municipality must adopt an ordinance, after notice and hearing, as provided in Section VIII.

3. Eligibility. Municipalities must use the standards established by ordinance to determine eligibility, as set forth in Section IV.

4. Assistance. Municipalities shall provide assistance in accordance with statute and rule (Sections IV and V) for eligible applicants for which they bear responsibility (Section VI) .

5. Reimbursement. To receive reimbursement from the Department for General Assistance expenditures, municipalities must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and follow the procedural requirements in Section XII.

6. Records. Municipalities shall maintain case records in accordance with Section VII.

7. Review. Municipalities shall cooperate with the Department's review, as provided in Section IX. When a municipality is found to be out of compliance with statute and/or rule, they will submit a corrective action plan to be approved by the Department.

1. The Department shall administer the General Assistance Program in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

2. The Department shall assist municipalities in complying with statutory requirements by reviewing the administration of General Assistance.

3. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the administration of General Assistance in the unorganized territories.

The Department may enter into contractual agreements to administer General Assistance to the unorganized territories, and contractors will be reimbursed 100% for direct General Assistance costs for those residents.

Residents of an unorganized territory are eligible for General Assistance in the same manner as provided in statute.

4. The Department may intervene on behalf of General Assistance applicants and other municipalities if a municipality fails to comply with General Assistance requirements. Departmental intervention will be in accordance with the ordinance adopted by the municipality and Section XI of this manual.

5. The Department must provide appropriate reimbursement to municipalities for their General Assistance Program at the rate set forth in 22 M.R.S. §4311.

6. The Department of Health and Human Services, General Assistance Program staff represents the Department in administrative fair hearings.

7. The Department shall collect from each municipality emergency contact information for use by municipal residents in applying for assistance under this section. The Department shall forward the municipal emergency contact information periodically to the statewide 2-1-1 telephone number designated pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7108.