79R8367 KKA-D


By:  Giddings, Guillen                                            H.B. No. 608



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to school district internship programs in which students 
earn credit for high school graduation by working with elected 
government officials.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 28.002(f), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(f)  In addition to courses in the required curriculum, a [A] 
school district may offer courses for local credit, including an 
internship program in which a student works with an elected local, 
state, or national government official under the supervision of a 
classroom teacher from the student's school.  The State Board of 
Education shall permit course credit earned through an internship 
program described by this subsection to be used to comply with 
appropriate state elective course credit requirements for high 
school graduation [in addition to those in the required 
curriculum].  The State Board of Education shall be flexible in 
approving any other [a] course for local credit for high school 
graduation under this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.