By Chavez                                             H.B. No. 2395
         77R1628 CLG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the provision of financial assistance to certain legal
 1-3     immigrants.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 31.0015 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 31.0015.  ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. The
 1-8     department shall provide financial assistance in accordance with 8
 1-9     U.S.C. Section 1612(b), as amended, to a person who:
1-10                 (1)  is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C.
1-11     Sections 1641(b) and (c), as amended;
1-12                 (2)  meets the eligibility requirements of the
1-13     financial assistance program;
1-14                 (3)  entered the United States on or after August 22,
1-15     1996; and
1-16                 (4)  has resided in the United States for a period of
1-17     five years after the date the person entered as a qualified alien.
1-18           SECTION 2.  If before implementing any provision of this Act
1-19     a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
1-20     federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
1-21     the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
1-22     authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
1-23     waiver or authorization is granted.
1-24           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.