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.