HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3106        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3209

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shaunna L. O'Connell and Ryan C. Fattman

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to lawful permanent resident status.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

1/16/2015

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

3/18/2015

Dennis A. Rosa

4th Worcester

3/19/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3106        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3209

By Representative O’Connell of Taunton and Senator Fattman, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3209) of Shaunna L. O’Connell, David F. DeCoste and Dennis A. Rosa relative to the immigration status of persons applying for assistance from the Commonwealth.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to lawful permanent resident status.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 18 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section2B the following section:-- 

Section 2C.  The immigration status of all applicants for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, transitional aid to families with dependent children, and emergency assistance to elders, disabled and children shall be verified for lawful permanent resident status. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, benefits shall not be granted to lawful permanent residents who have resided in the commonwealth for less than 5 years; provided that waivers may be granted to applicants applying for self-petition under a federally protected status, including, but not limited to, battered spouse, children and parents. If a waiver is granted to award benefits to a lawful permanent resident with less than 5 years residency, the department shall check and verify the assets of the sponsor of said lawful permanent resident; provided that such check may be waived if the applicant is applying for self-petition under a federally protected status, including, but not limited to, battered spouse, children and parents. The department shall file a quarterly report detailing the number of recipients of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, transitional aid to families with dependent children, and emergency assistance to elders, disabled and children with less than 5 years of lawful permanent resident status receiving benefits.