An Act To Establish A 180-Day State Residency Requirement For Receiving Municipal General Assistance

This bill establishes a 180-day Maine residency requirement for individuals applying for municipal general assistance, directly affecting low-income residents seeking state aid. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of physical presence in Maine for at least 180 days prior to application, using documents like tax returns, utility bills, or government-issued IDs - post office boxes are not accepted. The law repeals the current residency provision and replaces it with these specific requirements. It applies to all applicants for municipal general assistance programs across Maine’s towns and cities. The change aims to clarify eligibility based on physical presence rather than other residency indicators.