By: Nixon S.B. No. 775 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to eligibility for certain public assistance administered 1-2 by health and human services agencies. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 531.047 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 531.047. DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR ELIGIBILITY 1-7 DETERMINATION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a health 1-8 and human services agency may not provide financial assistance 1-9 under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or medical assistance under 1-10 Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, to a person who fails to provide 1-11 to the agency a document necessary to determine eligibility for the 1-12 assistance. 1-13 (b) A health and human services agency may accept alternate 1-14 documents and use alternate verification methods that are adequate 1-15 to establish the eligibility of a person for the assistance if the 1-16 agency does not require another person to produce a document. 1-17 (c) This section does not apply to a determination of 1-18 eligibility that is required to be postponed under state or federal 1-19 law. 1-20 SECTION 2. Chapter 22, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-21 adding Section 22.032 to read as follows: 1-22 Sec. 22.032. CITIZENSHIP PROMOTION FOR OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE 1-23 LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. (a) The department by rule shall develop a 2-1 grant program to promote naturalization of lawfully present legal 2-2 immigrants as of May 1, 1997, who are ineligible for public 2-3 assistance solely because of their immigration status. 2-4 (b) To the extent funds are appropriated by the legislature, 2-5 the program may provide grants for citizenship preparation 2-6 assistance for legal immigrants who are ineligible for federal 2-7 supplemental security income or food stamps benefits, including: 2-8 (1) outreach to and information for legal immigrants 2-9 about the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the process of 2-10 naturalization, and the availability of citizenship services; 2-11 (2) support services for elderly or disabled legal 2-12 immigrants in the naturalization process, including transportation 2-13 and interpretation for Immigration and Naturalization Service 2-14 interviews; 2-15 (3) assistance in completing the application for 2-16 United States Citizenship; and 2-17 (4) instruction in civics, United States history, and 2-18 English as a second language necessary for the citizenship 2-19 examination. 2-20 SECTION 3. If before implementing a provision of this Act 2-21 the Health and Human Services Commission determines that a waiver 2-22 or authorization from a federal agency is necessary for 2-23 implementation, the commission shall request the waiver or 2-24 authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the 2-25 waiver or authorization is granted. 3-1 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and 3-2 applies only to a person who applies for or receives financial 3-3 assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, or medical 3-4 assistance under Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, on or after that 3-5 date, regardless of the date on which eligibility for the 3-6 assistance is determined. 3-7 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 3-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.