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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a legislative internship program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.09091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.09091. LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. (a) The |
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board shall establish and administer a legislative internship |
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program under which each eligible student selected to participate |
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in the program may earn six hours of academic credit toward the |
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student's degree program and a $5,000 cost of living stipend for |
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serving as a legislative intern for an office of a member of the |
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legislature, a state agency, or a local governmental entity. |
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(b) To participate in the legislative internship program, a |
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student must: |
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(1) apply for an internship in the manner prescribed |
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by the board; |
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(2) have completed at least 60 hours toward an |
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undergraduate degree; |
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(3) be enrolled at an institution of higher education; |
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(4) demonstrate exceptional skills in writing, |
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composition, and computer literacy; and |
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(5) comply with other requirements established by the |
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board under this section. |
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(c) The board shall adopt rules for the administration of |
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this section, including rules prescribing the procedure for the |
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application by, and the selection of, students eligible to |
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participate in the legislative internship program. |
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(d) The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations for |
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the purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |