1. Objective. In keeping with the American heritage that each person in our society has an inherent human dignity, it is declared that persons of the State of Maine who are visually impaired, disabled or elderly are entitled to sufficient income to attain a reasonable standard of living, which will encourage the pursuit of a meaningful life of greatest value to the nation, the State of Maine and fellow human beings. It is the mutual and shared duty of first, the individual and the individual’s family, second, the community and private agencies of the community and ultimately the governments of the political subdivisions of this State, the State of Maine and the United States of America to enable persons who are visually impaired, disabled or elderly to secure income. The objective of this Part is to reduce income barriers to personal and economic independence by encouraging persons who are visually impaired, disabled or elderly to secure and maintain maximum dignity, independence and self-care in a home environment and, if needed, with an appropriate state supplemental income.

2. Purpose. It is further declared that many blind, disabled and elderly people in the State of Maine do not have income sufficient to meet the minimum cost of living budget relating to Maine as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is therefore the purpose of this Act, in support of the above objective, to make available to blind, disabled and elderly people a program of state supplemental income.