2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 17b-790a. Food assistance program for legal immigrants.

      Sec. 17b-790a. Food assistance program for legal immigrants. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services, within available appropriations, shall establish a food assistance program for individuals entering the United States prior to April 1, 1998, whose immigrant status meets the eligibility requirements of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, but who are no longer eligible for food stamps solely due to their immigrant status under Public Law 104-193. Individuals who enter the United States after April 1, 1998, must have resided in the state for six months prior to becoming eligible for the state program. The commissioner may administer such program in accordance with the provisions of the federal food stamp program, except those pertaining to the determination of immigrant status under Public Law 104-193.

      (b) The amount of the initial assistance provided to individuals under this section shall be determined at the commissioner's discretion, based on one of the following methodologies: (1) A calculated benefit amount for each case; (2) a basic benefit amount for all cases; or (3) a continuation of the benefit amount previously received under the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, prior to discontinuance. Individuals may be eligible for retroactive payments back to April 1, 1998.

      (c) Not later than April 1, 1999, the commissioner shall provide assistance to an individual under this section in an amount equal to the amount the individual would be eligible to receive under the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended.

      (d) The commissioner shall terminate assistance under this section to any individual whose federal food stamp benefits have been restored.

      (e) The commissioner shall implement the policies and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is published in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days after implementation. Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.

      (P.A. 98-11, S. 1, 3; 98-239, S. 12, 35; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 18, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 25; P.A. 04-258, S. 18.)

      History: P.A. 98-11 effective April 1, 1998; P.A. 98-239 amended Subsec. (a) to require that the commissioner establish the program within available appropriations, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit commissioner from accepting new applications for assistance under section after June 30, 2002, effective July 2, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (a) to extend the deadline for certain aliens to apply for assistance until June 30, 2003, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision that prohibited commissioner from accepting new applications for assistance under section after June 30, 2003, effective July 1, 2004.