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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing school districts to provide funding using |
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money received under the Foundation School Program to |
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community-based organizations for purposes of reimbursing private |
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employers for paid internships provided to certain students in |
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career and technology education programs in the district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.1871 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.1871. CONTRACT TO REIMBURSE FOR PAID INTERNSHIP. |
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(a) In this section, "community-based organization" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 303.001, Labor Code. |
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(b) To encourage private employers to participate with |
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school districts in providing career and technology education to |
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assist students in developing the knowledge, skills, and |
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competencies necessary for a broad range of career opportunities, |
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the board of trustees of a school district may contract with a |
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community-based organization to: |
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(1) match students in grade 11 or 12 who are |
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participating in a career and technology education program in the |
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district with paid internships or similar programs provided by |
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private employers; and |
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(2) reimburse private employers for all or part of the |
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cost of providing paid internships or similar programs to students |
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described by Subdivision (1) using funds provided to the |
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community-based organization by the district. |
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(c) A contract described by Subsection (b) must: |
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(1) require each paid internship or similar program |
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provided to the school district's students to primarily promote a |
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public purpose of the district relating to career and technology |
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education; |
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(2) include provisions under which the school district |
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is granted sufficient control to ensure that the public purpose |
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under Subdivision (1) is accomplished and the district receives the |
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return benefit; and |
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(3) ensure that each student employed under a paid |
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internship or similar program is paid at least the minimum wage |
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required by law. |
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(d) In providing funds to a community-based organization |
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for the purposes of reimbursing a private employer under a contract |
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under Subsection (b), the school district may use funds allocated |
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to the district for career and technology education under Section |
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48.106. |
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(e) A community-based organization with which a school |
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district contracts under Subsection (b) may serve as the employer |
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of record for a student employed under a paid internship or similar |
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program provided under a contract described by Subsection (b). |
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(f) Completion of a paid internship or similar program |
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provided under a contract described by Subsection (b) may satisfy a |
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requirement to complete a practicum as part of a school district's |
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career and technology education program. |
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SECTION 2. Section 48.106(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) At least 55 percent of the funds allocated under this |
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section must be used: |
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(1) in providing career and technology education |
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programs in grades 7 through 12; or |
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(2) in providing funding to a community-based |
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organization under a contract entered into under Section 29.1871 |
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for purposes of reimbursing private employers for providing paid |
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internships or similar programs to students in career and |
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technology education programs. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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