BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 580

By: Thierry

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that participation in career and technology education programs improves student academic outcomes. It has been suggested that existing infrastructure for additional federal funding for school districts that participate in these programs can allow districts to use their career and technology education allotment to offset costs by businesses for employing paid interns, which enables students to gain hands-on experience. H.B. 580 seeks to encourage private employers to participate with school districts in providing career and technology education to students by authorizing school districts to reimburse those employers for paid internships or similar programs provided to the students.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 580 amends the Education Code to authorize a public school district to contract with a private employer to reimburse the employer for all or part of the cost of providing a paid internship or similar program to a student participating in a career and technology education program in the district for purposes of encouraging private employers to participate with districts in providing career and technology education to assist students in developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for a broad range of career opportunities. The bill requires such a contract to require the private employer to provide to the district's student a paid internship or similar program that primarily promotes a public purpose of the district relating to career and technology education and to include provisions under which the district is granted sufficient control to ensure that the public purpose is accomplished and the district receives the return benefit. The bill authorizes a district to use funds from its career and technology education allotment under the foundation school program to reimburse a private employer under contract for providing a paid internship or similar program to a student. The bill applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.