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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a pilot program to provide summer internships |
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for foster children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 264.1251 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 264.1251. SUMMER INTERNSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall establish a summer internship pilot program that |
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provides foster children with the opportunity to develop marketable |
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job skills and obtain professional work experience through a summer |
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internship with a participating business, nonprofit organization, |
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or governmental entity. |
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(b) The department may collaborate with other state |
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agencies, as appropriate, to establish the pilot program. The |
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pilot program may be implemented in more than one department |
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region. |
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(c) The department may enter into an agreement with one or |
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more entities described by Subsection (a) to allow the entity to |
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award internships to children who participate in the pilot program. |
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Internships provided under the pilot program may be paid or unpaid. |
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(d) Not later than April 1 of each year, the department |
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shall select foster children or former foster children who are 15 |
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years of age or older to participate in the pilot program. Each |
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child participating in the pilot program shall enter into an |
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agreement with the organization awarding the internship and the |
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department relating to the terms of the child's internship. |
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(e) The department shall complete an evaluation of the pilot |
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program not later than the second anniversary of the date the |
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program begins. |
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(f) The department shall submit a report on the evaluation |
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of the pilot program to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and |
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the speaker of the house of representatives. The report must |
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include: |
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(1) the number of children who participated in the |
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pilot program; |
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(2) the location and type of internships provided |
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under the pilot program; and |
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(3) details of the department's efforts to recruit |
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eligible children to participate in the pilot program. |
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(g) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2018, the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall establish the pilot program |
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required by Section 264.1251, Family Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |