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 * * * * *