H-1345.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1629

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooke and Boldt

Read first time 02/03/97.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Establishing conditions for receipt of public assistance by legal immigrants.

    AN ACT Relating to public assistance for legal immigrants; adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Legal immigrants who are recipients of public assistance under this title as of August 22, 1996, shall have their eligibility for assistance redetermined within ninety days of the effective date of this section.

    (2) Legal immigrants who arrive in the United States of America after August 22, 1997, are ineligible to receive public assistance under this title for a period of five years.  Following their period of ineligibility, their eligibility for public assistance shall be determined as provided for in this section.

    (3) In determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of a legal immigrant for public assistance under this title, the income and resources of the legal immigrant shall be deemed to include the income and resources of any person and his or her spouse who executed an affidavit of support pursuant to section 213A of the federal immigration and naturalization act on behalf of the legal immigrant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned.  Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.

                            --- END ---