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ENGROSSED
SENATE BILL 6098
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Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 04/10/97.
Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Relating
to human services.
AN
ACT Relating to human services; adding new sections to chapter 74.-- RCW; and
creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec.
1. IMMIGRANTS‑-ELIGIBILITY. The state shall exercise
its option under P.L. 104-193 to continue services to legal immigrants under
temporary assistance for needy families, medicaid, and social services block
grant programs. Eligibility for these benefits for legal immigrants arriving
after August 21, 1996, is limited to those families where the parent, parents,
or legal guardians have been in residence in Washington state for a period of
twelve consecutive months before making their application for assistance.
Legal immigrants who lose benefits under the supplemental security income
program as a result of P.L. 104-193 are immediately eligible for benefits under
the state's general assistance-unemployable program. The department shall
redetermine income and resource eligibility at least annually, in accordance
with existing state policy.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2.
SPONSOR DEEMING. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section,
qualified aliens and aliens permanently residing under color of law shall have
their eligibility for assistance redetermined.
(2)
In determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of a qualified alien
or an alien permanently residing under color of law for public assistance under
this title, the income and resources of the alien 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 alien for a period of five years following
the execution of that affidavit of support. The deeming provisions of this
subsection shall be waived if the sponsor dies or is permanently incapacitated
during the period the affidavit of support is valid.
(3)
As used in this section, "qualified alien" has the meaning provided
it in P.L. 104-183.
(4)(a)
Qualified aliens specified under sections 403, 412, and 552 (e) and (f),
subtitle B, Title IV, of P.L. 104-193 and in P.L. 104-208, are exempt from this
section.
(b)
Qualified aliens who served in the armed forces of an allied country, or were
employed by an agency of the federal government, during a military conflict
between the United States of America and a military adversary are exempt from
the provisions of this section.
(c)
Qualified aliens who are victims of domestic violence and petition for legal
status under the federal violence against women act are exempt from the
provisions of this section.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. FOOD
ASSISTANCE. (1) The department may establish a food assistance program for
persons whose immigrant status meets the eligibility requirements of the
federal food stamp program, but who are no longer eligible solely due to their
immigrant status under P.L. 104-193.
(2)
The rules for the state food assistance program shall follow exactly the rules
of the federal food stamp program except for the provisions pertaining to
immigrant status under P.L. 104-193.
(3)
The benefit under the state food assistance program shall be established by the
legislature in the biennial operating budget.
(4)
The department may enter into a contract with the United States department of
agriculture to use the existing federal food stamp program coupon system for
the purposes of administering the state food assistance program.
(5)
In the event the department is unable to enter into a contract with the United
States department of agriculture, the department may issue vouchers to eligible
households for the purchase of eligible foods at participating retailers.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 4.
CAPTIONS NOT LAW. Captions used in this act are not any part of the law.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5.
Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to the chapter created in section
1010, chapter . . . (Engrossed House Bill No. 3901), Laws of 1997.
