Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4304 – General assistance offices
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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 emergency at all other times, the fact that the municipality must issue a written decision on all applications within 24 hours and the department‘s toll-free telephone number for reporting alleged violations in accordance with section 4321.
[PL 1991, c. 209, §1 (AMD).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4304
- Department: means the Department of Health and Human Services. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 1-A
- Emergency: means any life threatening situation or a situation beyond the control of the individual which, if not alleviated immediately, could reasonably be expected to pose a threat to the health or safety of a person. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
- Municipal officers: means the mayor and municipal officers or councilors of a city, the members of the select board or councilors of a town and the assessors of a plantation. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Municipality: includes cities, towns and plantations, except that "municipality" does not include plantations in Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter IV; or Title 30?A, Part 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Overseer: means an official designated by a municipality to administer a general assistance program. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 22 Sec. 4301
2. District office. In situations where in the judgment of a municipality the number of applicants does not justify the establishment of a local office or designated place, or where for other reasons a local office or designated place is not necessary, 2 or more municipalities, by a vote of their respective legislative bodies, may establish a district office for the administration of general assistance and make agreements as to the payment of expenses and any other matters relevant to the operation of the office.
Any district office established pursuant to this subsection shall be located so as to be accessible by a toll-free telephone call from any part of every municipality it is designated to serve.
Every district general assistance officer shall be available for the taking of applications at least 35 hours each week and shall make provision for designated personnel to be available to take applications in an emergency 24 hours a day.
[PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW).]
3. Emergencies. In any case when an applicant is unable, due to illness, disability, lack of transportation, lack of child care or other good cause, to apply in person for assistance or unable to appoint a duly authorized representative, the overseer shall accept an application by telephone subject to verification by mail and a visit to the applicant’s home with the consent of the applicant. Municipalities may arrange with emergency shelters for the homeless to presume eligible for municipal assistance persons to whom the emergency shelter provides shelter services.
[PL 1989, c. 322, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1983, c. 577, §1 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 322, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 699 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 209, §1 (AMD).