SRC-TAG S.B. 65 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 65
78R573 KLA-DBy: Zaffirini
International Trade and Relations
4/14/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1996, the federal government passed the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), which changed legal
immigrants' access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and
TANF-funded programs.  Most immigrants arriving after the enactment PRWORA
were barred for five years from TANF funds, which applies not only to cash
assistance but also to other services such as employment assistance, child
care, transportation, and other "non-cash" benefits.  However, before the
enactment of PRWORA, Texas decided to maintain TANF and Medicaid
eligibility for immigrants already present in the United States.   As
proposed, S.B. 65 provides TANF and Medicaid to legal immigrants after the
five-year bar. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, by
adding Section 32.0248, as follows: 

Section 32.0248.  ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.  Requires the
Health and Human Services Commission or an agency to provide medical
assistance in accordance with 8 U.S.C. Section 1612 (b), as amended, to
qualified legal immigrants who meet certain requirements. 
    
SECTION 2.  Authorizes a state agency to delay implementing a provision of
this Act until a requested federal waiver or authorization necessary to
implement that provision is granted.  

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.