EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR REFUGEES AND CERTAIN OTHER QUALIFIED ALIENS FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS FOR SSI AND MEDICAID; STATUS OF CUBAN AND HAITIAN ENTRANTS.

SEC. 5302. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR REFUGEES AND CERTAIN OTHER QUALIFIED ALIENS FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS FOR SSI AND MEDICAID; STATUS OF CUBAN AND HAITIAN ENTRANTS. (a) SSI.—Section 402(a)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows: “(A) Time-limited exception for refugees and asylees.— “(i) SSI.—With respect to the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 7 years after the date— “(I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; “(II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act; “(III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act; or “(IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980). “(ii) Food stamps.—With respect to the specified Federal program described in paragraph (3)(B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 5 years after the date— “(I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; “(II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act; “(III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act; or “(IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980).”. (b) Medicaid.—Section 402(b)(2)(A) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:111 STAT. 599 “(A) Time-limited exception for refugees and asylees.— “(i) Medicaid.—With respect to the designated Federal program described in paragraph (3)(C), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 7 years after the date— “(I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; “(II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act; “(III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act; or “(IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980). “(ii) Other designated federal programs.—With respect to the designated Federal programs under paragraph (3) (other than subparagraph (C)), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien until 5 years after the date— “(I) an alien is admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; “(II) an alien is granted asylum under section 208 of such Act; “(III) an alien’s deportation is withheld under section 243(h) of such Act; or “(IV) an alien is granted status as a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980).”. (c) Status of Cuban and Haitian Entrants.— (1) Federal means-tested public benefits.— (A) Section 403(b)(1) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(D) An alien who is a Cuban and Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.”. (B) Section 403 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613) is amended by striking subsection (d). (2) State public benefits.—Section 412(b)(1) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1622(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(D) An alien who is a Cuban and Haitian entrant as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 until 5 years after the alien is granted such status.” (3) Qualified alien defined.—Section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is amended— (A) in paragraph (5) by striking “or”; (B) in paragraph (6) by striking the period and inserting “; or”; and111 STAT. 600 (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(7) an alien who is a Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980).”.