1-1     By:  Zaffirini                                        S.B. No. 1095
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 1999; March 11, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Human Services;
 1-4     April 7, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4,
 1-5     Nays 0; April 7, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to nutritional assistance for certain legal immigrants.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, is amended by
1-11     adding Section 33.0024 to read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 33.0024.  STATE IMMIGRANT FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
1-13     (a)  The department by rule shall develop and implement a state
1-14     immigrant food assistance program to provide nutritional assistance
1-15     to a lawfully present immigrant who:
1-16                 (1)  is a qualified alien, as that term is defined by 8
1-17     U.S.C. Section 1641(b);
1-18                 (2)  meets all eligibility requirements of the food
1-19     stamp program under this chapter but is not eligible for assistance
1-20     under that program solely because of 8 U.S.C. Section 1612; and
1-21                 (3)  meets one of the following criteria:
1-22                       (A)  is younger than 18 years of age and entered
1-23     the United States after August 22, 1996; or
1-24                       (B)  was receiving food stamp benefits under this
1-25     chapter for any part of the period beginning September 1, 1996, and
1-26     ending  August 30, 1997, and reached the age of 65 after August 22,
1-27     1996, but before September 1, 1997.
1-28           (b)  Subject to Subsection (a), the  state immigrant food
1-29     assistance program shall be administered using the same rules with
1-30     respect to eligibility procedures and benefit levels that are used
1-31     in administering the food stamp program under this chapter.
1-32           SECTION 2.  The state immigrant food assistance program
1-33     required by Section 33.0024, Human Resources Code, as added by this
1-34     Act, is intended to replace a similar food program providing
1-35     assistance to certain immigrants ineligible for the federal food
1-36     stamp program that was authorized by the Texas Board of Human
1-37     Services, implemented under rules of the Texas Department of Human
1-38     Services, and in effect immediately before the effective date of
1-39     this Act.
1-40           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-41           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-42     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-43     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-44     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-45     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-46                                  * * * * *