§4301. Definitions As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).] 1. Basic necessities. “Basic necessities” means food, potable water, clothing, shelter, fuel, electricity, nonelective medical services as recommended by a physician, nonprescription drugs, telephone where it is necessary for […]
§4302. Delegation of duties; oath; bond Overseers may authorize some person whom they shall designate to perform such of the duties imposed upon them by this chapter as they may determine. The overseers may designate more than one person to perform those duties. Before entering upon the performance of those duties, the person or persons […]
§4303. Prosecution and defense of towns For all purposes provided for in this chapter, the overseers or any person appointed by them in writing may prosecute and defend a town. [PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).
§4304. General assistance offices 1. Local office. There must be in each municipality a general assistance office or designated place where any person may apply for general assistance at regular, reasonable times designated by the municipal officers. Notice must be posted of these times, the name of the overseer available to take applications in an […]
§4305. Municipal ordinance required 1. Program required; ordinance. A general assistance program shall be operated by each municipality and shall be administered in accordance with an ordinance enacted, after notice and hearing, by the municipal officers of each municipality. [PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).] 2. Availability of ordinance. The ordinance and a copy […]
§4306. Records; confidentiality of information The overseer shall keep complete and accurate records pertaining to general assistance, including the names of eligible persons assisted and the amounts paid for their assistance. Records, papers, files and communications relating to an applicant or recipient made or received by persons charged with responsibility of administering this chapter are […]
§4307. Municipality of responsibility; residency 1. General assistance required. Municipalities shall provide general assistance to all eligible persons at the expense of that municipality, except as provided in section 4311. A municipality may not move or transport a person into another municipality to avoid responsibility for general assistance support for that person. A municipality […]
§4308. Applications In order to receive assistance from any municipality, the applicant or a duly authorized representative must file a written application with the overseer, except as provided in section 4304, subsection 3. [PL 1993, c. 410, Pt. AAA, §6 (AMD).] 1. Initial and subsequent applications. Except as provided in section 4316‑A, subsection 1‑A, […]
§4309. Eligibility 1. Eligibility of applicant; duration of eligibility. The overseer shall determine eligibility each time a person applies or reapplies for general assistance pursuant to this chapter and the ordinance adopted by the municipality in accordance with section 4305. The period of eligibility must not exceed one month. At the expiration of that period […]
§4310. Emergency benefits prior to full verification Whenever an eligible person becomes an applicant for general assistance and states to the administrator that the applicant is in an emergency situation and requires immediate assistance to meet basic necessities, the overseer shall, pending verification, issue to the applicant either personally or by mail, as soon as […]
§4311. State reimbursement to municipalities; reports 1. Departmental reimbursement. When a municipality incurs net general assistance costs in any fiscal year prior to July 1, 2015 in excess of .0003 of that municipality’s most recent state valuation relative to the state fiscal year for which reimbursement is being issued, as determined by the State Tax […]
§4312. Unorganized territory Residents of the unorganized territory shall be eligible for general assistance in the same manner as provided in this chapter. The commissioner shall establish standards of eligibility for the unorganized territory and shall have the same responsibilities with regard to the unorganized territory as apply to overseers in a municipality. The commissioner […]
§4313. Reimbursement to individuals relieving eligible persons; prior approval; emergencies Municipalities, as provided in section 4307, shall pay expenses necessarily incurred for providing basic necessities to eligible persons anywhere in the State by any person not liable for their support provided that the municipality of responsibility shall be notified and approve those expenses and services […]
§4314. Cooperation in administration of general assistance 1. State departments. Upon the request of any municipal official charged with the responsibility of administering general assistance, the Department of Health and Human Services and any other department of the State having information which has a bearing on the eligibility of any person applying for general assistance […]
§4315-A. Use of income for basic necessities required All persons requesting general assistance must use their income for basic necessities. Except for initial applicants, recipients are not eligible to receive assistance to replace income that was spent within the 30-day period prior to the application on goods and services that are not basic necessities. The […]
§4315. False representation Whoever knowingly and willfully makes any false representation of a material fact to the overseer of any municipality or to the department or its agents for the purpose of causing that or any other person to be granted assistance by the municipality or by the State is guilty of a Class E […]
§4316-A. Work requirement 1. Ineligibility for assistance. An applicant is ineligible for assistance for 120 days in all municipalities in the State when any municipality establishes that the applicant, without just cause: A. Refuses to search for employment when that search is reasonable and appropriate; [PL 1985, c. 489, §§7, 14 (NEW).] B. […]
§4316. Work requirement (REPEALED) SECTION HISTORY PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 697, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 489, §§6,14 (RP).
§4317. Use of potential resources An applicant or recipient must make a good faith effort to secure any potential resource that may be available, including, but not limited to, any state or federal assistance program, employment benefits, governmental or private pension programs, available trust funds, support from legally liable relatives, child-support payments and jointly held […]
§4318. Recovery of expenses A municipality or the State, which has incurred general assistance program costs for the support of any eligible person, may recover the full amount expended for that support either from the person relieved or from any person liable for the recipient’s support, their executors or administrators, in a civil action. In […]
