85R7898 MM-D
By: Minjarez H.B. No. 1608
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a pilot program to provide summer internships
for foster children.
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 children 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 children 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 children or former foster children who are 15
years of age or older to participate in the pilot program. Each
child 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 child'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 children 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 children 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.