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.