PUBLIC BENEFITS

Child nutrition and WIC reauthorization bill passes Congress. Spending levels for nutrition programs for FY 99 decided in Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (THHSC) and the Texas Department of Health (TDH) are planning a series of hearings to hear public comment on options for creating "Phase II" of Texas' Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Dates have been set for seven hearings, though locations have not been finalized. Due to the short notice, we are providing this incomplete information to you now, so that you can reserve time on your calendars until final location information is available.

In June, President Clinton signed the Agriculture Research Bill, legislation that restores federal Food Stamp eligibility for legal immigrants with disabilities and most children and elderly legal immigrants who lost their benefits under the 1996 federal welfare reform law. These restorations will cover roughly 250,000 immigrants, less than one-third of the legal immigrants originally cut off from Food Stamps. The restorations will go into effect on November 1.

Critical deliberations regarding funding levels for food and nutrition programs are currently underway in Congress. Several key actions on child nutrition programs reauthorization and FY 1999 agricultural appropriations are expected before Congress leaves for the August recess.

The new federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is well underway in many other states. However, despite the availability of $564 million in federal funds and ample state matching funds in fiscal year 1998, Texas has taken only a few small steps toward implementation.

Cuts hit Welfare-to-Work, Safety Net Programs hardest. Cuts Would Also Affect Economic Development, Environment, Law Enforcement, and Education.

A small group of elderly or disabled immigrants who are lawfully present and currently receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash assistance remain at risk of losing their SSI benefits at the end of the current federal fiscal year.

The Texas Integrated Enrollment and Services Project (TIES) Legislative Oversight Committee (LOC) will hold a public hearing in El Paso at 9:00 AM on April 7, 1998.

The Texas Integrated Enrollment and Services Project (TIES) Legislative Oversight Committee (LOC) will hold a public hearing in Dallas at 10:00 AM on March 25th, 1998.