By:  Zaffirini                                                            S.B. No. 65



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of medical assistance to certain legal 
immigrants.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Human Resources Code, 
is amended by adding Section 32.0248 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.0248.  ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. The 
department shall provide medical assistance in accordance with 8 
U.S.C. Section 1612(b), as amended, to a person who:
		(1)  is a qualified alien, as defined by 8 U.S.C. 
Sections 1641(b) and (c), as amended;
		(2)  meets the eligibility requirements of the medical 
assistance program;
		(3)  entered the United States on or after August 22, 
1996; and      
		(4)  has resided in the United States for a period of 
five years after the date the person entered as a qualified alien.
	SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.