| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to creating a pilot program to provide summer internships |
|
|
for foster youth. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 264.1251 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 264.1251. SUMMER INTERNSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
|
|
department shall establish a summer internship pilot program that |
|
|
provides foster youth with the opportunity to develop marketable |
|
|
job skills and obtain professional work experience through a summer |
|
|
internship with a participating business, nonprofit organization, |
|
|
or governmental entity. |
|
|
(b) The department may collaborate with other state |
|
|
agencies, as appropriate, to establish the pilot program. The |
|
|
pilot program may be implemented in more than one department |
|
|
region. |
|
|
(c) The department may enter into an agreement with one or |
|
|
more entities described by Subsection (a) to allow the entity to |
|
|
award internships to youth who participate in the pilot program. |
|
|
Internships provided under the pilot program may be paid or unpaid. |
|
|
(d) Not later than April 1 of each year, the department |
|
|
shall select foster youth or former foster youth who are 15 years of |
|
|
age or older to participate in the pilot program. Each youth |
|
|
participating in the pilot program shall enter into an agreement |
|
|
with the organization awarding the internship and the department |
|
|
relating to the terms of the youth's internship. |
|
|
(e) The department shall complete an evaluation of the pilot |
|
|
program not later than the second anniversary of the date the |
|
|
program begins. |
|
|
(f) The department shall submit a report on the evaluation |
|
|
of the pilot program to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and |
|
|
the speaker of the house of representatives. The report must |
|
|
include: |
|
|
(1) the number of youth who participated in the pilot |
|
|
program; |
|
|
(2) the location and type of internships provided |
|
|
under the pilot program; and |
|
|
(3) details of the department's efforts to recruit |
|
|
eligible youth to participate in the pilot program. |
|
|
(g) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to |
|
|
implement this section. |
|
|
(h) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2018, the Department of |
|
|
Family and Protective Services shall establish the pilot program |
|
|
required by Section 264.1251, Family Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2017. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1608 was passed by the House on May 4, |
|
|
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
|
|
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
|
|
No. 1608 on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, |
|
|
2 present, not voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 1608 was passed by the Senate, with |
|
|
amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
|
|
0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
|
Governor |