Amendment #1023 to H3900

Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty

Ms. Decker of Cambridge moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 4403-2000, by striking out the following: “shall be equal to the standard that was in effect in the month of January 2023” and inserting in place thereof the following: “not including the rental allowance shall be increased by 20 per cent above the standard in effect in the month of January 2023”; and further moves to amend said line item by striking out the figures “$424,269,513” and inserting in place thereof the figures: “$497,469,513”;

and further moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 4408-1000, by striking out the following: “shall not be less than the standard that was in effect in the month of January 2022” and inserting in place thereof the following: “shall be increased by 20 per cent above the standard in effect in the month of January 2023”; and further moves to amend said line item by striking out the figures “$197,155,514” and inserting in place thereof the figures: “$224,555,514”;

and further moves to amend the bill by adding the following new sections:

SECTION XX. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program not including the rental allowance shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2024 by 20 percent above the highest payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50% of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services or the highest payment standard in the previous fiscal year, whichever is greater; provided further, that the need standard and the payment amounts shall be further increased by the amount of a clothing allowance in the month for which it is paid and by the rental allowance for households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public or subsidized housing.

SECTION XX. Section 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the payment standards for monthly benefits for the program shall be increased effective July first of each year beginning with July 1, 2024 by 20 percent above the highest payment standard in effect in the previous fiscal year until the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size; provided further, that once the payment standard for the household size equals 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, the payment standard shall be increased effective July first of each year in order that the payment standard shall be no less than 50% of the poverty level for the household size as determined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services or the highest payment standard in the previous fiscal year, whichever is greater.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1023 to H3900

Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty