Yesterday I was asked by my trust lawyers to accompany them to the Maryland Senate to testify for MD Bill 888. After searching for the interpretation to everyday language, the purpose of passing this bill is to stop other state agencies from putting additional limitations on what the trust can be used for as time goes on. In reality this added limitations end up being in violation of federal laws that already exist.
In my opinion, it is highly unfair to write new restrictions for a process that is already complex from the start. In 2001 when we setup my special needs trust I understood that I could not use it for everyday life cost cover by SSI. Over the years I have notice that I had to justify more and more the things that I would like to do with my trust.
Over the years I notice, I used to pay a friend to repair something around my home, but now before work can start I have to obtain 3 estimates before work can start. If the cost is more then a certain amount I have to use a license contractor. Even now when I buy electronics, I have to get 3 prices for the items.
This just makes it more confusing and frustrating for the trustee and the recipient. I get to the point where it is not worth using my trust, if I hear no to many times. I would rather go without.
If no rules are being broken and no harm is being done, it’s not right to add limitations, or stipulations that would cause this to take place.
SENATE BILL 888
N2 1lr2851 CF 1lr2868
By: Senator Gladden Introduced and read first time: February 21, 2011 Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
1 AN ACT concerning
2 Trusts – Special Needs, Supplemental Needs, or Pooled Asset Special Needs
3 Trusts – Public Benefits
4 FOR the purpose of stating that the policy of this State is to encourage the use of
5 certain special needs trusts or supplemental needs trusts by individuals with
6 disabilities of all ages for certain reasons; requiring certain State agencies to
7 adopt regulations that are not more restrictive than existing federal law,
8 regulations, or policies with regard to the treatment of special needs trusts or
9 supplemental needs trusts; requiring the regulations to allow certain funding
10 and use of special needs trusts; establishing that a certain determination of the
11 Internal Revenue Service or the Maryland Department of Assessments and
12 Taxation regarding the nonprofit status of organizations that operate a pooled
13 asset special needs trust is sufficient to satisfy a certain requirement of federal
14 law; prohibiting State agencies from imposing additional requirements on
15 organizations that operate a pooled asset special needs trust for a certain
16 purpose; defining certain terms; and generally relating to special needs and
17 supplemental needs trusts.
18 BY adding to 19 Article – Estates and Trusts 20 Section 14–114 21 Annotated Code of Maryland 22 (2001 Replacement Volume and 2010 Supplement)
23 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 24 MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
25 Article – Estates and Trusts
26 14–114.
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0888*
2 SENATE BILL 888
1 (A) IN THIS SECTION, “SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST” AND “SUPPLEMENTAL
2 NEEDS TRUST” INCLUDE A TRUST FUNDED BY A TRUST BENEFICIARY OR BY A
3 THIRD PARTY.
4 (B) IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST OR SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST BY AN INDIVIDUAL OF
6 ANY AGE WITH DISABILITIES TO PRESERVE FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS
7 OF THE INDIVIDUAL NOT MET BY PUBLIC BENEFITS AND TO ENHANCE QUALITY
8 OF LIFE.
9 (C) (1) EACH STATE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES THROUGH MEANS–TESTED 11 PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SHALL ADOPT 12 REGULATIONS THAT ARE NOT MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN EXISTING FEDERAL 13 LAW, REGULATIONS, OR POLICIES WITH REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF A 14 SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST OR SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST, INCLUDING A TRUST DEFINED IN 42 U.S.C. § 1396P(C)(2) AND (D)(4).
16 (2) THE REGULATIONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 17 SUBSECTION SHALL ALLOW:
18 (I) A POOLED ASSET SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST, AUTHORIZED 19 IN 42 U.S.C. § 1396P(D)(4)(C), TO RETAIN FUNDS REMAINING IN AN INDIVIDUAL
BENEFICIARY’S ACCOUNT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE BENEFICIARY, WITHOUT 21 LIMIT;
22 (II) AN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT IN A POOLED ASSET SPECIAL
23 NEEDS TRUST TO BE FUNDED WITHOUT FINANCIAL LIMIT;
24 (III) A FUND IN A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST, SUPPLEMENTAL
NEEDS TRUST, OR POOLED ASSET SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST TO BE USED FOR THE
26 SOLE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIARY INCLUDING, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE 27 TRUSTEE, DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FOOD, SHELTER, UTILITIES, AND
28 TRANSPORTATION;
29 (IV) AN INDIVIDUAL TO ESTABLISH OR FUND AN INDIVIDUAL
ACCOUNT IN A POOLED ASSET SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST WITHOUT AN AGE LIMIT
31 OR A TRANSFER PENALTY;
32 (V) AN INDIVIDUAL TO FUND A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST OR 33 SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL’S CHILD WITH 34 DISABILITIES WITHOUT A TRANSFER PENALTY AND REGARDLESS OF THE
CHILD’S AGE; AND SENATE BILL 888 3
1 (VI) ALL LEGALLY ASSIGNABLE INCOME OR RESOURCES TO 2 BE ASSIGNED TO A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST, SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST, OR 3 POOLED ASSET SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST WITHOUT LIMIT.
4 (D) (1) A DETERMINATION OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR 5 THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION REGARDING THE 6 NONPROFIT STATUS OF AN ORGANIZATION OPERATING A POOLED ASSET 7 SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE NONPROFIT 8 REQUIREMENT OF 42 U.S.C. § 1396P(D)(4)(C).
9 (2) A STATE AGENCY MAY NOT IMPOSE ADDITIONAL 10 REQUIREMENTS ON AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 11 SUBSECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF QUALIFYING OR DISQUALIFYING THE 12 ORGANIZATION FROM OFFERING A POOLED ASSET SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST.
13 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14 October 1, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment