HBA-TBM H.B. 1218 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1218 By: Chavez Human Services 2/16/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Federal welfare reform legislation in 1996 denied food stamp benefits to many legal immigrants. Even after a partial restoration of federal food stamp benefits to selected immigrants in 1998, many legal immigrants in Texas are without food stamp benefits. House Bill 1218 requires the Texas Department of Human Services to develop and implement a food assistance program to provide nutritional assistance to lawfully present immigrants. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Human Services in SECTION 1 (Section 33.0024, Human Resources Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 1218 amends the Human Resources Code to require the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS), by rule, to develop and implement a food assistance program to provide nutritional assistance to lawfully present immigrants who meet the qualifications set forth in the bill. The bill provides that the food assistance program required by this bill is intended to replace a similar food program providing assistance to certain immigrants ineligible for the federal food stamp program that was authorized by the Texas Board of Human Services and implemented under DHS rule. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.