A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 8-29-10, RELATING TO THE REQUIRED VERIFICATION OF WHETHER CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS, SO AS TO REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO REFER AN APPLICANT'S INFORMATION TO UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 8-29-10(E) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    (E)(1) For an applicant who has executed an affidavit that he or she is an alien lawfully present in the United States, eligibility for benefits shall be made through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) program operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security or a successor program designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Until the eligibility verification is made, the affidavit shall be presumed to be proof of lawful presence for the purposes of this article.

       (2) For an applicant who is determined not to be an alien lawfully present in the United States, the state agency or political subdivision shall refer the applicant's information, including unsatisfactory immigration status, to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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