article: SECTION 1. MEDICAID EXCEPTION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIEN CHILDREN. Section 402(b)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2)) is amended by adding after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: ``(E) Medicaid exception for permanent resident alien children.--With respect to eligibility for benefits under paragraph (3)(C) (relating to the medicaid program), an alien who -- ``(A) is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and ``(B) is under 19 years of age.''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR SSI AND MEDICAID FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLEES FROM 5 TO 7 YEARS. (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 by inserting ``(or with respect to eligibility under paragraph (3)(A) 7 years)'' after ``5 years''. (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 in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) by inserting ``(or with respect to eligibility under paragraph (3)(C) 7 years)'' after ``5 years'' each place it appears. SEC. 3. SSI ELIGIBILITY FOR QUALIFIED ALIENS WHO BECAME BLIND OR DISABLED AFTER ADMISSION. (a) Eligibility.--Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: ``(E) Qualified aliens who became blind or disabled after admission.--With respect to eligibility for benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who is a qualified alien (as defined in section 431) who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States.''. (b) Attribution of Income.--Section 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(g) Special Rule for SSI Benefits for Blind and Disabled Aliens.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, subsection (a) shall not apply to benefits under section 402(a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) for an alien who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States.''. (c) No reimbursement requirement.--Section 423(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(12) Benefits under section 402(a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) for an alien who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States.''. SEC. 4. SSI ELIGIBILITY FOR QUALIFIED ALIENS WHO WERE ADMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES BEFORE ATTAINING 18 YEARS OF AGE AND WERE BLIND OR DISABLED PRIOR TO ADMISSION. (a) Eligibility.--Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph: ``(F) Qualified aliens who became blind or disabled after admission.--With respect to eligibility for benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who is a qualified alien (as defined in section 431), who was admitted to the United States before attaining the age of 18 years, and who was blind or disabled (or for whom the onset of blindness or disability occurred) prior to admission to the United States.''. (b) Attribution of Income.--Section 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(g) Special Rule for SSI Benefits for Blind and Disabled Aliens.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, subsection (a) shall not apply to benefits under section 402(a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) for an alien who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States or for an alien who was admitted to the United States prior to attaining the age of 18 years and was blind or disabled (or for whom the onset of blindness or disability occurred) prior to admission to the United States.''. (c) No reimbursement requirement.--Section 423(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(12) Benefits under section 402(a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) for an alien who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States or for an alien who was admitted to the United States prior to attaining the age of 18 years and was blind or disabled (or for whom the onset of blindness or disability occurred) prior to admission to the United States.''. SEC. 5. EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BLIND AND DISABLED ALIENS TO 5-YEAR INELIGIBILITY OF QUALIFIED ALIENS FOR FEDERAL MEANS- TESTED PUBLIC BENEFITS. Section 403(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(b)) is amended by adding after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: ``(3) Exception for blind and disabled aliens.-- ``(A) An alien who became blind or disabled after admission to the United States. ``(B) An alien who was admitted to the United States before attaining the age of 18 years and who was blind or disabled (or for whom the onset of blindness or disability occurred) prior to admission to the United States.''. SEC. 6. SSI ELIGIBILITY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS AT LEAST 76 YEARS OF AGE. (a) In General.--Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is further amended by adding after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph: ``(F) Permanent resident aliens at least 76 years of age.--With respect to eligibility for benefits under paragraph (3)(A) relating to the supplemental security income program), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien who ``(i) is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act; and ``(ii) is at least 76 years of age.''. (b) No reimbursement requirement.--Section 423(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(13) Benefits under section 402(a)(3)(A) (relating to the supplemental security income program) for an alien who is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and is at least 76 years of age.''. SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this Act shall be effective as if included in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. (b) Exceptions.--The amendments made by sections 4, 5, and 6 shall be effective with respect to benefits payable for months after July 1997.''.
summary: Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to make permanent resident aliens under 19 years old eligible for Medicaid. Extends the refugee and asylee eligibility period for Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Makes qualified aliens eligible for SSI benefits who: (1) became blind or disabled after U.S. admission; or (2) were under 18 years old at, and blind or disabled prior to, U.S. admission. Exempts such aliens from: (1) attribution of sponsor income and repayment requirements; and (2) the five-year ineligibility period for Federal means-tested public benefits. Makes permanent resident aliens who are at least 76 years old eligible for SSI benefits. Exempts such aliens from sponsor repayment requirements.