By Zaffirini                                          S.B. No. 1095
         76R3328 CLG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to nutritional assistance for certain legal immigrants.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by
 1-5     adding Section 33.0024 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 33.0024.  STATE IMMIGRANT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  (a)
 1-7     The department by rule shall develop and implement a state
 1-8     immigrant food assistance program to provide nutritional assistance
 1-9     to a lawfully present immigrant who:
1-10                 (1)  is a qualified alien, as that term is defined by 8
1-11     U.S.C. Section 1641(b);
1-12                 (2)  meets all eligibility requirements of the food
1-13     stamp program under this chapter, but is not eligible for
1-14     assistance under that program solely because of 8 U.S.C.  Section
1-15     1612; and
1-16                 (3)  meets one of the following criteria:
1-17                       (A)  is younger than 18 years of age and entered
1-18     the United States after August 22, 1996; or
1-19                       (B)  was receiving food stamp benefits under this
1-20     chapter for any part of the period beginning September 1, 1996, and
1-21     ending  August 30, 1997, and reached the age of 65 after August 22,
1-22     1996, but before September 1, 1997.
1-23           (b)  Subject to Subsection (a), the  state immigrant food
1-24     assistance program shall be administered using the same rules with
 2-1     respect to eligibility procedures and benefit levels that are used
 2-2     in administering the food stamp program under this chapter.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  The state immigrant food assistance program
 2-4     required by Section 33.0024, Human Resources Code, as added by this
 2-5     Act, is intended to replace a similar food program providing
 2-6     assistance to certain immigrants ineligible for the federal food
 2-7     stamp program that was authorized by the Texas Board of Human
 2-8     Services, implemented under rules of the Texas Department of Human
 2-9     Services, and in effect immediately before the effective date of
2-10     this Act.
2-11           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-12           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.