An Act To Expedite The Process Involving Municipalities That Illegally Move A Person To Avoid Responsibility For General Assistance Support

LD 1178 prevents Maine municipalities from illegally moving people between towns to avoid paying for general assistance support. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make a decision on residency disputes within 15 working days (down from 30), and mandates that the municipality causing the dispute reimburse the assisting town within 10 days, plus 6% annual interest if late. Repeat violations within 12 months trigger a $10,000 penalty and a required compliance audit. The bill also creates a rebuttable presumption that moving a person implies an attempt to avoid responsibility, and requires an annual public report listing violations and enforcement actions.