Source: https://www.azag.gov/sgo-opinions/public-benefits-under-federal-law-and-ars-46-14001?page=2
Timestamp: 2018-04-25 05:37:10
Document Index: 349190265

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1611', '§ 1621', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 1621', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 1621', '§ 1611', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 1621', '§ 1621', '§ 46', '§ 1611', '§ 46', '§ 1611', '§ 1611', '§ 1611', '§ 1621', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 1621', '§ 46']

Public Benefits Under Federal Law and A.R.S. 46-140.01 | Page 3 | Arizona Attorney General
Public Benefits Under Federal Law and A.R.S. 46-140.01
I05-009 (R04-040)
Director, Department of Economic Security
Programs identified in 8 U.S.C. § 1611(b) or 8 U.S.C. § 1621(b) as exceptions to the alienage eligibility restrictions that otherwise apply to federal public benefits and state and local public benefits are not subject to the requirements of A.R.S. § 46-140.01.
Programs listed in the U.S. Department of Justice Notice of Final Order dated January 16, 2001, as necessary for the protection of life or safety, are not subject to the requirements of A.R.S. § 46-140.01 if the programs are community based, provide in-kind (non-cash) services, and do not condition the provision of assistance, the amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance provided on the individual recipient’s income, as required by 8 U.S.C. § 1621(b)(4).
At the 2004 general election Arizona voters approved A.R.S. § 46-140.01 as part of Proposition 200. This statute requires that State and local government employees verify the identity and eligibility of applicants for State and local public benefits not mandated by federal law. This Office previously advised that “state and local public benefits” subject to A.R.S. § 46-140.01 included those programs in Title 46 of Arizona Revised Statutes that are "state and local public benefits" under 8 U.S.C. § 1621(c). Section 1621 generally establishes that non-citizens who are not qualified aliens are not eligible for State and local public benefits. A different federal law, 8 U.S.C. § 1611, establishes similar restrictions for “federal public benefits.” Both of these statutes were part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (“Federal Welfare Reform Act”), which included many eligibility restrictions based on immigration status.(1) Pub. L. 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105 [codified in scattered sections of titles 8 and 42 of U.S.C.].
You seek additional guidance regarding the application of the federal law to assist in the implementing of A.R.S. § 46-140.01 and to ensure compliance with federal law.
Section 46-140.01, as added by Proposition 200, expressly applies only to “state and local public benefits.” As explained in Arizona Attorney General Opinion I04-010, A.R.S. § 46-140.01 governs certain programs that are “state and local public benefits” subject to 8 U.S.C. § 1621. Section 1621 specifically provides that the term "state and local public benefits" does not include "any [f]ederal public benefit under 1611(c) of this title." 8 U.S.C. § 1621(c)(3). Likewise, by its terms, A.R.S. § 46-140.01 does not apply to “federal public benefits.” Therefore, a “federal public benefit” subject to 8 U.S.C. § 1611 is not subject to A.R.S. § 46-140.01.
A “federal public benefit” is, with some exceptions:
Based on these principles and a review of DHHS programs, the DHHS Notice identified 29 specific programs or sources of funding as “federal public benefits that are subject to the eligibility restrictions in 8 U.S.C. § 1611.(2) These federal benefits are generally not available to immigrants who are not lawfully present in the United States. See 8 U.S.C. § 1611(a). Even though some of the programs identified in the 1998 DHHS notice are administered by State and local governments, they are federal public benefits, not State and local public benefits. The DHHS Notice acknowledges this distinction between state and local public benefits and federal public benefits:
Services or benefits that are wholly funded by state or local governments may be “state or local public benefit(s)” as defined in section 411(c) of [the Federal Welfare Reform Act]. However, services or benefits that are wholly or partially funded with DHHS resources must comply with the interpretation provided in this Notice.
Those programs that are exempt from the eligibility restrictions in 8 U.S.C. § 1611 or § 1621 are not subject to the provisions of A.R.S. § 46-140.01.
C. Programs Necessary for Life and Safety are Exempt from the Requirements of A.R.S. § 46-140.01.
These programs are not subject to the alienage restrictions in the Welfare Reform Act, if they are in-kind, community-based services and the provision of the assistance, amount of assistance or the cost of the assistance are not conditioned on the recipient’s income or resources. 8 U.S.C. 1621(b)(4). According to the Order, "[n]either states nor other service providers may use the [Welfare Reform Act] as a basis for prohibiting access of aliens to any programs, services, or assistance covered by this Order." Unless the person is otherwise ineligible for the services, "benefit providers may not restrict the access of any alien to the services covered by this Order.” 2001 Order.(3) These emergency programs that meet the statutory requirements in 8 U.S.C. § 1621(b)(4) are not subject to A.R.S. § 46-140.01 because federal law mandates that they be provided without regard to immigration status.