(a)
Optional application to State programs
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in determining the eligibility and the amount of benefits of an alien for any State public benefits, the State or political subdivision that offers the benefits is authorized to provide that the income and resources of the alien shall be deemed to include—
(1)
the income and resources of any individual who executed an affidavit of support pursuant to section
1183a of this title (as added by section
423 and as amended by section 551(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996) on behalf of such alien, and
(2)
the income and resources of the spouse (if any) of the individual.