By Alonzo H.B. No. 2833 74R6626 JSA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a state government internship program for certain 1-3 students in certain fields of higher education. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter Q to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER Q. STATE GOVERNMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 1-8 Sec. 61.801. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. (a) The board shall 1-9 administer a state government internship program in cooperation 1-10 with general academic teaching institutions to support students of 1-11 those institutions who desire to participate in the program. 1-12 (b) The program shall provide internships, as funding 1-13 permits, for students enrolled in government, history, public 1-14 affairs, political science, or other fields involving government or 1-15 public policy to reside in the Austin area for a semester or term 1-16 during which the student works in an office or department of state 1-17 government in connection with the internship. A participating 1-18 institution must require the student to enroll in an academic 1-19 course for credit as a full-time student for the semester or term 1-20 of the internship. 1-21 (c) The board shall seek the cooperation of state offices 1-22 and agencies in connection with the program and shall coordinate 1-23 the placement of internship students during their internships. 1-24 (d) The board shall allocate available internships to 2-1 participating institutions as the board determines appropriate 2-2 considering all relevant factors, including the enrollment of 2-3 eligible students at each institution, the proximity of each 2-4 institution to the city of Austin, and the resources available to 2-5 the institution and its students to provide similar learning 2-6 opportunities. 2-7 Sec. 61.802. STUDENTS ELIGIBLE. (a) Each participating 2-8 institution selects students of the institution to participate in 2-9 the program. 2-10 (b) The board shall establish criteria for institutions to 2-11 use in selecting students for the program. The criteria shall 2-12 ensure that students participating in the program: 2-13 (1) represent groups that have been historically 2-14 underrepresented in positions of government leadership or 2-15 management; and 2-16 (2) demonstrate financial need as defined by the 2-17 board. 2-18 Sec. 61.803. FUNDING. (a) The program is funded by 2-19 appropriations made for purposes of the program. 2-20 (b) The board may solicit or accept gifts and grants from 2-21 any source to fund the program. 2-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-23 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.