By Shapleigh S.B. No. 1887 76R2499 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 assistance 1-14 under that program solely because of 8 U.S.C. Section 1612; and 1-15 (3) meets one of the following criteria: 1-16 (A) is younger than 18 years of age and entered 1-17 the United States after August 22, 1996; 1-18 (B) is 60 years of age or older and entered the 1-19 United States before August 23, 1996; or 1-20 (C) is disabled, as that term is defined by 7 1-21 U.S.C. Section 2012(r), and entered the United States after August 1-22 22, 1996. 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.