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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state agency reports on the cost of services and |
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benefits provided to undocumented immigrants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2101, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2101.016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2101.016. REPORT OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS PROVIDED TO |
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UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. (a) In this section, "undocumented |
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immigrant" means an individual who is not: |
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(1) a United States citizen; |
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(2) a legal permanent resident of the United States; |
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or |
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(3) a qualified alien or nonimmigrant under the |
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Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.) who |
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is legally present in the United States. |
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(b) Not later than December 31 of each year, each state |
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agency shall submit to the comptroller a report of the cost of |
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services and benefits provided to undocumented immigrants, with the |
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agency determining the extent to which undocumented immigrants are |
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served by the agency by: |
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(1) considering statements and other information |
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provided by the recipient of a service or benefit that identifies |
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the recipient as an undocumented immigrant, including place of |
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birth, registration with the Social Security Administration to the |
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extent that information may be lawfully obtained, and work history; |
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or |
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(2) using an aggregated statistical method developed |
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by the agency if it is not practical for the agency to directly |
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determine whether each recipient of a service or benefit is an |
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undocumented immigrant. |
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(c) The comptroller shall use the information reported |
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under Subsection (b) to produce a biennial report to the |
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legislature regarding the estimated financial impact of |
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undocumented immigrants on the state budget and economy. |
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(d) A report under this section must be produced using |
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aggregated statistical data that does not contain personally |
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identifiable information. Information sought for the preparation |
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of a report under this section may not violate any federal or state |
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laws, including rules, regarding privacy. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2101.016, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only in relation to an application for a service |
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or benefit that is made on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |