By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1095 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to nutritional assistance for certain legal immigrants. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by 1-4 adding Section 33.0024 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 33.0024. STATE IMMIGRANT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 1-6 (a) The department by rule shall develop and implement a state 1-7 immigrant food assistance program to provide nutritional assistance 1-8 to a lawfully present immigrant who: 1-9 (1) is a qualified alien, as that term is defined by 8 1-10 U.S.C. Section 1641(b); 1-11 (2) meets all eligibility requirements of the food 1-12 stamp program under this chapter but is not eligible for assistance 1-13 under that program solely because of 8 U.S.C. Section 1612; and 1-14 (3) meets one of the following criteria: 1-15 (A) is younger than 18 years of age and entered 1-16 the United States after August 22, 1996; or 1-17 (B) was receiving food stamp benefits under this 1-18 chapter for any part of the period beginning September 1, 1996, and 1-19 ending August 30, 1997, and reached the age of 65 after August 22, 1-20 1996, but before September 1, 1997. 1-21 (b) Subject to Subsection (a), the state immigrant food 1-22 assistance program shall be administered using the same rules with 1-23 respect to eligibility procedures and benefit levels that are used 1-24 in administering the food stamp program under this chapter. 2-1 SECTION 2. The state immigrant food assistance program 2-2 required by Section 33.0024, Human Resources Code, as added by this 2-3 Act, is intended to replace a similar food program providing 2-4 assistance to certain immigrants ineligible for the federal food 2-5 stamp program that was authorized by the Texas Board of Human 2-6 Services, implemented under rules of the Texas Department of Human 2-7 Services, and in effect immediately before the effective date of 2-8 this Act. 2-9 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-10 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.