Okla. Stat. tit. 56, § 56-230.73
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 56, § 56-230.73, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 56, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 56,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Qualified aliens
Official statutory text
A. As used in this section:
1. "Legal immigrant" means an individual not born in the United
States and not a citizen of the United States whose entrance into
the United States has been approved by the Immigration and
Naturalization Service; and
2. "Qualified alien" shall have the same meaning as such term
is defined by Section 431(b) of the federal Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, as
amended.
B. 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that passage
of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, requires the states to
make certain decisions concerning legal immigrants and their
eligibility for certain types of public assistance.
2. The goal of this section is to recognize that foreign-born
legal residents of the State of Oklahoma contribute to our society
by working in our communities, supporting local businesses, and
paying taxes and should be eligible to receive certain types of
public assistance under certain conditions. Moreover, the state
goal is to provide the types of assistance that will enhance the
state's ability to receive federal financial participation, thereby
reducing the ultimate burden on the state and local government for
emergency health and welfare needs.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 116
3. This section is also intended to encourage and support
efforts to help foreign-born legal residents of the State of
Oklahoma to become citizens of the United States.
C. 1. A qualified alien who entered the United States before
August 22, 1996, shall be eligible to receive benefits under a state
program funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block
Grant Funds pursuant to Part A of Title IV of the federal Social
Security Act.
2. A qualified alien who entered the United States on or after
August 22, 1996, shall be barred from receiving the benefits
described in paragraph 1 of this subsection for a period of five (5)
years after the date of entry into the United States, unless such
alien meets the exceptions set forth in the federal Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L.
104-193, as amended. After five (5) years, the qualified alien
shall be eligible for benefits pursuant to the Statewide Temporary
Assistance Responsibility System (STARS), but shall have sponsor
income deemed to the individual or family pursuant to rules
promulgated by the Commission for Human Services.
D. 1. A qualified alien who entered the United States before
August 22, 1996, shall be eligible to receive benefits under the Old
Age Pension, the Aid to the Needy Disabled, and the Aid to the Blind
programs if such qualified alien meets the eligibility criteria for
such programs, other than citizen status.
2. A qualified alien who entered the United States on or after
August 22, 1996, shall be barred from receiving benefits under the
programs described in paragraph 1 of this subsection for a period of
five (5) years after the date of entry into the United States,
unless the alien meets the exceptions set forth in the federal
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996, P.L. 104-193, as amended. After five (5) years, the qualified
alien shall be eligible for benefits pursuant to such programs but
shall have sponsor income deemed to the person or family pursuant to
rules promulgated by the Commission for Human Services.
E. The Commission for Human Services shall encourage a
qualified alien who is eligible to submit an application for
citizenship to submit such an application.
F. 1. The Commission shall promulgate rules for the delivery
of emergency assistance to a person who:
a. is a legal immigrant and a resident of the State of
Oklahoma,
b. is not a citizen of the United States, and
c. meets the eligibility requirements for assistance
pursuant to the Statewide Temporary Assistance
ligible to submit an application for
citizenship to submit such an application.
F. 1. The Commission shall promulgate rules for the delivery
of emergency assistance to a person who:
a. is a legal immigrant and a resident of the State of
Oklahoma,
b. is not a citizen of the United States, and
c. meets the eligibility requirements for assistance
pursuant to the Statewide Temporary Assistance
Responsibility System (STARS) program other than
citizen status and is not receiving any other public
assistance as specified by the Commission.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 117
2. Such emergency assistance may include, but need not be
limited to, the following forms of assistance:
a. housing,
b. food,
c. short-term cash assistance, and
d. clothing and social services for children.
G. 1. Sponsors shall be expected to meet their financial
commitments to the immigrants whom they sponsor and for whom they
sign affidavits of support.
2. The Commission shall also promulgate rules consistent with
this section and federal law to enforce sponsor commitments for
noncitizen applicants for or recipients of public assistance or
medical assistance.
H. In the event that after passage of this act federal law
authorizes extended benefits to aliens, the provision of this
section shall be modified and made consistent with the provisions of
federal law.
1. "Legal immigrant" means an individual not born in the United
States and not a citizen of the United States whose entrance into
the United States has been approved by the Immigration and
Naturalization Service; and
2. "Qualified alien" shall have the same meaning as such term
is defined by Section 431(b) of the federal Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, as
amended.
B. 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that passage
of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, requires the states to
make certain decisions concerning legal immigrants and their
eligibility for certain types of public assistance.
2. The goal of this section is to recognize that foreign-born
legal residents of the State of Oklahoma contribute to our society
by working in our communities, supporting local businesses, and
paying taxes and should be eligible to receive certain types of
public assistance under certain conditions. Moreover, the state
goal is to provide the types of assistance that will enhance the
state's ability to receive federal financial participation, thereby
reducing the ultimate burden on the state and local government for
emergency health and welfare needs.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 116
3. This section is also intended to encourage and support
efforts to help foreign-born legal residents of the State of
Oklahoma to become citizens of the United States.
C. 1. A qualified alien who entered the United States before
August 22, 1996, shall be eligible to receive benefits under a state
program funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block
Grant Funds pursuant to Part A of Title IV of the federal Social
Security Act.
2. A qualified alien who entered the United States on or after
August 22, 1996, shall be barred from receiving the benefits
described in paragraph 1 of this subsection for a period of five (5)
years after the date of entry into the United States, unless such
alien meets the exceptions set forth in the federal Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L.
104-193, as amended. After five (5) years, the qualified alien
shall be eligible for benefits pursuant to the Statewide Temporary
Assistance Responsibility System (STARS), but shall have sponsor
income deemed to the individual or family pursuant to rules
promulgated by the Commission for Human Services.
D. 1. A qualified alien who entered the United States before
August 22, 1996, shall be eligible to receive benefits under the Old
Age Pension, the Aid to the Needy Disabled, and the Aid to the Blind
programs if such qualified alien meets the eligibility criteria for
such programs, other than citizen status.
2. A qualified alien who entered the United States on or after
August 22, 1996, shall be barred from receiving benefits under the
programs described in paragraph 1 of this subsection for a period of
five (5) years after the date of entry into the United States,
unless the alien meets the exceptions set forth in the federal
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996, P.L. 104-193, as amended. After five (5) years, the qualified
alien shall be eligible for benefits pursuant to such programs but
shall have sponsor income deemed to the person or family pursuant to
rules promulgated by the Commission for Human Services.
E. The Commission for Human Services shall encourage a
qualified alien who is eligible to submit an application for
citizenship to submit such an application.
F. 1. The Commission shall promulgate rules for the delivery
of emergency assistance to a person who:
a. is a legal immigrant and a resident of the State of
Oklahoma,
b. is not a citizen of the United States, and
c. meets the eligibility requirements for assistance
pursuant to the Statewide Temporary Assistance
ligible to submit an application for
citizenship to submit such an application.
F. 1. The Commission shall promulgate rules for the delivery
of emergency assistance to a person who:
a. is a legal immigrant and a resident of the State of
Oklahoma,
b. is not a citizen of the United States, and
c. meets the eligibility requirements for assistance
pursuant to the Statewide Temporary Assistance
Responsibility System (STARS) program other than
citizen status and is not receiving any other public
assistance as specified by the Commission.
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 117
2. Such emergency assistance may include, but need not be
limited to, the following forms of assistance:
a. housing,
b. food,
c. short-term cash assistance, and
d. clothing and social services for children.
G. 1. Sponsors shall be expected to meet their financial
commitments to the immigrants whom they sponsor and for whom they
sign affidavits of support.
2. The Commission shall also promulgate rules consistent with
this section and federal law to enforce sponsor commitments for
noncitizen applicants for or recipients of public assistance or
medical assistance.
H. In the event that after passage of this act federal law
authorizes extended benefits to aliens, the provision of this
section shall be modified and made consistent with the provisions of
federal law.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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