HBA-MPM H.B. 2395 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2395
By: Chavez
Human Services
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The federal government substantially limited the eligibility of immigrants
for public assistance benefits in 1996.  Texas, which has a large
percentage of legal immigrants, saw a 12 percent decline in public
assistance caseloads resulting from the 1996 federal policy change.
Communities along the Texas-Mexico border were hit particularly hard, and
health and nutrition problems are on the rise in these communities Current
law makes legal immigrants who entered the United States on or after August
26, 1996 eligible for financial assistance five years after they become
legal permanent residents.  In order to exercise the options, the state
must elect to give legal immigrants access to Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families program (TANF) benefits after the five-year bar.  House Bill
2395 provides TANF benefits to legal aliens who meet federal and state
eligibility requirements. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2395 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Texas
Department of Human Services to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) in accordance with federal law to a person who: 

_is a qualified alien, as defined by federal law;

_meets TANF eligibility requirements;

_entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996; and

_has resided in the United States for a period of five years after the date
the person entered as a qualified alien. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.