By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 63
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of financial assistance and related
support services to certain legal immigrants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 31.0015 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.0015. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. To
the maximum extent authorized by federal law, the department shall
provide financial assistance and related support services under the
financial assistance program to a person who:
(1) is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C.
Sections 1641(b) and (c), as amended; and
(2) meets the eligibility requirements of the
financial assistance program.
SECTION 2. Subtitle C, Title 2, Human Resources Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 37 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 37. STATE SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Sec. 37.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "support
services" means services defined by federal law that are provided
to recipients as a component of the financial assistance program
authorized by Chapter 31.
Sec. 37.002. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE
PROGRAM; FUNDING. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission,
the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission, with the
participation of local workforce development boards, shall jointly
develop and implement a state program of support services that is
distinct from the financial assistance program authorized by
Chapter 31.
(b) Support services may be provided under the state program
only to a person who:
(1) is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C.
Sections 1641(b) and (c), as amended;
(2) entered the United States on or after August 22,
1996; and
(3) is not eligible for financial assistance under
Chapter 31 solely because the person has resided in the United
States for a period of less than five years after the date the
person entered as a qualified alien.
(c) Support services provided under the state program may
not be funded with federal money provided to the state for the
financial assistance program authorized by Chapter 31.
Sec. 37.003. RULES. (a) The Health and Human Services
Commission, the department, and the Texas Workforce Commission, in
consultation with the standing committees of the senate and house
of representatives having jurisdiction over health and human
services issues, shall adopt all rules necessary for implementation
of the state program, including rules regarding eligibility, work
requirements, work exemptions, and time limits.
(b) The rules must be designed to result in a state program
that is substantively identical to the support services component
of the financial assistance program authorized by Chapter 31,
except to the extent that programmatic differences are appropriate
because of the populations served by those programs and the sources
of funding for those programs.
(c) The Health and Human Services Commission, the
department, and the Texas Workforce Commission shall form an
interagency work group to develop the rules required under this
section. The interagency work group shall provide for
participation in development of the rules by:
(1) representatives of local workforce development
boards; and
(2) members of the standing committees of the senate
and house of representatives having jurisdiction over health and
human services issues.
Sec. 37.004. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires on the date
federal law no longer prohibits the department from providing
support services under the financial assistance program authorized
by Chapter 31 to a person described by Sections 37.002(b)(1) and (2)
because of the length of the period the person has resided in the
United States after the date the person entered as a qualified
alien.
SECTION 3. If before implementing any provision of this Act
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the
waiver or authorization is granted.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.